New research from an 8-year follow-up study evaluated the long-term myopia control effect and user experience of pediatric patients wearing HOYA Vision Care’s DIMS spectacle lenses.
The data was presented during the 2024 International Myopia Conference (IMC) in Sanya, China, earlier this month.
Let’s start with DIMS.
HOYA’s patented Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) is a non-invasive technology that serves as the basis for its MiYOSOMART spectacle lenses to correct myopia refractive error and provide clear vision for pediatric patients.
How these glasses work: DIMS uses a honeycomb-shaped segment treatment area (dubbed the “defocus zone”) to slow down myopia progression, as well as a clear zone (dubbed the “focus zone”) with a patient’s prescription.
- In other words: The focus zone enables clear vision while the defocus zone simultaneously manages myopia.
- See a more detailed explanation (with visuals).
And how are the glasses designed?
The MiYOSMART lenses are made with a highly impact-resistant, thin, and light-weight material intended to provide ultraviolet (UV) protection and optical clarity.
Specifically: An anti-reflective coating minimizes lens scratches while the lenses’ water-repellant property prevents water stains.
- An advantage: The company has noted that the lenses can be fitted to a child just like conventional single-vision (SV) lenses.
Circling back to DIMS … any prior clinical data on them?
Indeed … most notably, research published in 2023 detailed a 6-year study supporting the use of DIMS spectacle lenses for myopia control—with no adverse effects.
The crux of those findings: DIMS spectacle lenses were found to provide a “sustained effect of slowing myopia progression and axial elongation (AE)” in myopic pediatric patients who were the lenses for up to 6 years.
Now talk about this latest research.
Conducted by five global institutions—including HOYA—the study enrolled 75 participants (aged 16 to 21 years of age) for the 8-year follow-up.
- To note: These patients comprised those who previously completed a 2-year randomized clinical trial (RCT) followed by 6 years of follow-up (n = 90, initially)
So how were these patients evaluated?
Participants were interviewed via phone or face-to-face on:
- Their current optical correction
- Their experience using the DIMS spectacle lenses prior to their visit for an eye exam
Then: 63 (out of the 75) patients completed the 8-year follow-up visit, where they were measured for:
- Cycloplegic refraction
- Axial length
How were these patients categorized?
Participants were split into four separate groups based on their lens wear experience in their respective 6 years of follow-up:
- Group 1: DIMS spectacle lens wearers for 6 years
- n = 34
- Group 2: DIMS spectacle lens wearers for first 3.5 years, then SV spectacles later
- n = 11
- Group 3: SV spectacle wearers for first 2 years before switching to DIMS spectacle
- n = 14
- Group 4: SV spectacle wearers for first 2 years before switching to DIMS for 1.5 years, then SV spectacles again
- n = 16
And the results?
In Group 1: 61.8% of participants who returned for the 8-year follow-up were still wearing the DIMS spectacle lenses for myopia correction.
Of the 38.2% who discontinued wearing their DIMS spectacle lenses
- 29.4% had switched to SV spectacles
- 11.8% had switched to SV contact lenses
- 2.9% had changed to myopia control contact lenses
To note: The researchers identified similar patterns in participants from Group 3 and Group 4.
Was axial elongation recorded for Group 1?
Yes! Investigators observed a statistically significant difference in axial length elongation (from 72 to 96 months) between the two lens subgroups who :
- DIMS spectacle lens wearers: 0.081±0.037mm
- SV spectacle lens wearers: 0.205±0.040mm
- Mean difference: -0.15±0.04 mm, p = 0.004
The authors’ input on this: “Axial elongation was slower in children who continued wearing DIMS lenses compared to those who switched to SV lenses in the 7th and 8th years.”
- They added: “DIMS lenses remained effective for those who wore them for the full 8 years.”
And myopia progression?
No statistically significant differences were noted (mean difference: 0.27±0.20D, p=0.19).
How did Group 2 participants fare?
Interestingly, the majority of participants in both Group 2 and Group 4 wore SV spectacle lenses at the 8-year follow-up.
Their reasoning for not resuming DIMS spectacle lenses:
- 48% reported it was due to a lack of access to free spectacles provided from the trial
- 22% reported the DIMS spectacle lenses were too expensive
- 22% reported changing to other (unspecified) myopia control methods
- 4% reported finding the lenses uncomfortable
- 4% reported no longer needing myopia control
And how was their satisfaction with the DIMS spectacle lenses?
The study authors found that all participants reported satisfaction with the DIMS lenses for myopia control and “agreed that participating in the RCT raised their awareness of managing their myopia.”
Lastly, what’s the significance of this data?
Carly Lam, PhD, principal investigator of the study, stated: “With myopia on the rise, it is important for eye care professionals to choose treatments to slow the progression in children based on best evidence available.”