New glasses may slow the progression of myopia in children

For many children, getting their first pair of glasses is an inevitable milestone, the beginning of a lifetime of eye doctor visits. But new lenses have emerged that can truly help preserve a child's vision and reduce the risk of more serious vision problems in adulthood, reports ABC News.

The new type of lens was already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September. This technology has been available in Europe, Asia, and other regions, and will now be available in the United States.

What is myopia and why is it getting worse?

Myopia is a condition in which a person can see objects up close clearly, but distant objects often appear blurry or fuzzy.

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Researchers around the world are recording an increase in myopia, which they attribute to prolonged sitting indoors in front of screens.

In the United States, between 30% and 40% of children will be nearsighted by the time they graduate from high school, according to Dr. Michael Repka, a professor and pediatric ophthalmologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Until now, medicine has offered few options for eliminating this type of vision disorder.

"Usually it all boiled down to a simple piece of advice: the child should wear glasses," Repka said. "This is for life, and in the coming years, vision will most likely deteriorate."

How do the new lenses work?

Essilor Stellest, a specialized eyeglass brand, is FDA-approved to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 6–12.

As the agency's specialists explained, they approved the lenses based on the company's data, according to which, after two years of wearing the new glasses, children experienced a 70% reduction in the progression of myopia.

Over time, myopia causes the eyeball to become longer, which impairs vision and increases the risk of tears in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

The new lenses use 11 concentric rings with tiny raised dots. They redirect light onto the retina in a way that is believed to slow down eyeball deformation.

"Whether this hypothesis is ultimately proven or not is not that important," Repka concluded, noting that the lenses appear effective regardless of their mechanism of action.

In a company study, children wearing these lenses saw their eyeballs shrink by 50% after two years. Scientists and doctors in the US and other countries are currently conducting independent studies to confirm these findings.

Ophthalmologists note that the potential benefits of the new lenses include preventing complications of severe myopia, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness.

"We now have a way to slow it down, and we may be able to prevent the severe deformation of the eyeball that increases the risk of blindness," concluded Dr. Rupa Wong, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Honolulu.

How much do these lenses cost?

According to lens manufacturer EssilorLuxottica, the recommended retail price for these lenses is $450.

Major US eye insurance companies are expected to cover these lenses for eligible children.

The only other FDA-approved product for slowing the progression of myopia is MiSight contact lenses. These daily disposable lenses, approved in 2019, use a similar approach to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8–12.

Jay Gupta, associate director of neurointerventional devices, believes many parents and doctors will likely opt for glasses.

"Many people may be hesitant to give contact lenses to an eight-year-old, so glasses offer a really convenient alternative," he suggested.

Some doctors prescribe eye drops to slow the progression of nearsightedness, but they are not FDA-approved.

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Which children can the new method help?

According to the FDA, the lenses can be prescribed to any child with myopia within the recommended age range. No serious side effects have been reported, although some children have reported visual distortions, such as halos around objects, while wearing these glasses.

The studies the FDA considered for approval were conducted in Asia. Therefore, Repka suggested, ophthalmologists and optometrists in the US may request additional data.

"Before this can be widely adopted, we'll need data from the U.S. to confirm the effectiveness of these lenses," Repka concluded.

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