Effect of the use of stellest spectacle lenses to control myopia in children

Purpose. To study the effect of spectacle lenses Stellest™ use on refraction, axial length (AL) and accommodation parameters in children with myopia. Methods. The study included 107 children (214 eyes) aged 7 to 16 years (10.0±1.7 years) with progressive myopia from –0.5 to –7.0 D in spherical equivalent of refraction (–2.6±1.6 diopters), astigmatism from –0.75 to –4.0 D was present in 28 % of cases. Spectacle lenses Stellest™ have always been prescribed for continuous wear (at least 12 hours per day). The dynamics was studied after 6 months (in 38 children, 76 eyes) and 12 months (in 25 children, 50 eyes) from the start of wearing Stellest™. Results. The average change in cycloplegic refraction was 0.06±0.01 D. In the first 6 months, stabilization of refraction was achieved in 72 % (55 eyes), and in 22 % (17 eyes) a weakening of cycloplegic refraction (+0.5 D) was detected. During 12 months, stable cycloplegic refraction was detected in 56 % of cases (28 eyes), and its weakening (by +0.5 diopters) or strengthening (up to –0.75 diopters) was equally frequent – in 22 % (11 eyes). Myopia progression annual gradient during wearing Stellest™ was 0.1 D (p<0.05). The stock of relative accommodation increased significantly to -4.0 diopters (р<0.05). The initial axial length in the group as a whole was 24.5±0.1 mm. For the first 6 months, growth of the AL did not exceed 0.02 mm, for 12 months – 0.1 mm. Conclusions. Spectacle lenses Stellest™ can be recommended as a reliable means of optical correction, helping to slow down the rate of progression and stabilize myopia. Stabilization of myopia within 12 months was achieved in 78 % of patients. Key words: myopia progression; myopia in children; peripheral myopic defocus; Stellest glasses.