Highlights
- •A survey of contact lens prescribing for myopia control in children was conducted annually in 31 countries between 2011 and 2018, inclusive.
- •Myopia control fits represented 2.3% of all contact lens fits to children, although the extent of myopia control fitting has slowly increased over time.
- •A similar proportion of females (58.1%) ws fitted with myopia control lenses versus non- myopia control lenses (62.3%).
- •The median age of myopia control and non- myopia control fits is 13 and 15 years, respectively, with most myopia control fitting activity taking place among children aged 8–15 years.
- •Of all contact lenses fitted for the purpose of myopia control to children, 52.1% were undertaken using rigid lenses; this compares with 12.0% for non-myopia control fits with rigid lenses.
Abstract
Purpose
To determine the extent of contact lens fitting for myopia control (MC) in children
(defined as ≤ 17 years of age) worldwide and to characterize the associated demographics
and fitting patterns.
Methods
Survey forms were sent to contact lens fitters in 66 countries between January and
March every year for eight consecutive years (2011–2018, inclusive). Practitioners
were asked to record data relating to the first 10 contact lens fits performed after
receiving the survey form. Data were analysed for those countries reporting ≥ 100
contact lens fits to children.
Results
Data were analysed for 535 MC fits and 23,295 other (non-MC) lens fits undertaken
in 31 countries reporting ≥ 100 contact lens fits to children, with 52.1% of MC fits
and 12.0% of non-MC fits being with rigid lenses (p < 0.0001). Overall, MC lenses
represented 2.3% of all contact lens fits to children, with significant differences
between nations (p < 0.0001), ranging from no MC fits recorded in the Czech Republic,
Greece, Japan, South Korea and Puerto Rico, to 24.9% in Austria. There has been an
increase in contact lens fitting for MC over the survey period (p < 0.0001). MC contact
lenses were fitted to younger children compared to non-MC lenses (MC, median 13 years
vs. non-MC, median 15 years) (p < 0.0001). There was no sex bias in the fitting of
MC lenses (p = 0.89).
Conclusions
MC lenses are currently being prescribed for younger children in equal measure in
terms of soft vs. rigid lenses and males vs. females. The extent of MC fitting is
low and varies between nations. The gradual increase in MC fitting throughout the
survey period perhaps reflects growing concerns among practitioners over the myopia
epidemic.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 03, 2019
Accepted:
June 26,
2019
Received in revised form:
June 24,
2019
Received:
January 18,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
