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Bifocals May Slow Progression of Myopia in Children CHICAGO -- January 11, 2010 -- Bifocal glasses may be effective in slowing the progression of myopia in children with high rates of progression, according to a study published in the January issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. Desmond Cheng, OD, then of the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbaine, Australia, and now with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China, and colleagues conducted a randomised controlled clinical trial among 135 Chinese Canadian children (mean age, 10.3 years) in 1 practice with progressing myopia. Children were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: 41 wore single-vision lenses, 48 wore bifocals, and 46 wore bifocals with prism. Of the 135 children, 131 completed the 24-month study. Progression of myopia was most rapid among those who wore single-focus lenses, slower among those who wore bifocals, and slowest among those who wore prismatic bifocals. Because the fundamental characteristics of myopia likely do not vary by ethnic group, the results would likely apply to other children with rapidly progressing forms of the condition, the authors noted. “The proportion of myopic children in this practice with fast myopic progression, therefore qualifying for bifocal treatment, was estimated to be about 54%,” the authors wrote. “Therefore, the bifocal treatment could benefit a large number of myopic children.” “To date, there has been no consensus on what magnitude of myopic reduction constitutes a clinically significant control effect,” they concluded. “In our opinion, the treatment effect of bifocal and prismatic bifocal lenses of 38% and 55%, respectively, in this study, though greater than those of others, is still modest. Whether or not the effect tapers off will decide clinical significance. If the treatment effects continued over time, then the treatment could have a significant role in preventing the development of very high pathologic myopia.” Therefore, long-term studies are needed, they noted. SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version