Three optical intervention methods for low myopia control in children: a one-year follow-up study

Abstract Objective This study aimed to compare the one-year efficacy of myopia prevention and control using three optical intervention methods - single vision lens (SVL), high aspherical lenticule (HAL), and orthokeratology (OK) lens - in children with low myopia. Methods A cohort of 150 children aged 7-12 years with low myopia was recruited and divided into three groups: SVL (n = 50), HAL (n = 50), and OK group (n = 50), based on their preference for glasses. Follow-up assessments were carried out over one year, focusing on data from the right eye for statistical analysis. Baseline characteristics such as gender, age, axial length (AL), equivalent spherical refractive error (SER), flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), anterior chamber depth (ACD), white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW), and non-contact tonometry (NCT) measurements were gathered and compared among the three groups before any intervention. Changes in AL growth after 1 year of intervention were assessed across the three groups. Subsequently, the AL growth control rates between the HAL and OK groups were compared, with the SVL group serving as the reference standard. Results The study found no statistically significant variances in baseline characteristics (gender, age, SER, AL, K1, K2, WTW, and NCT) among the SVL, HAL, and OK groups (all p > 0.05). Following a one-year intervention, AL growth rates were as follows: HAL group (0.163 ± 0.1130mm) < OK group (0.280 ± 0.170mm) < SVL group (0.516 ± 0.190mm), with statistically significant disparities ( p < 0.001). The HAL group demonstrated a higher 1-year AL growth control rate (68.41%) compared to the OK lens group (45.74%) for children aged 7-12 with low myopia, with a statistically significant distinction ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Compared to SVL, HAL and OK lens are more effective in controlling axial growth in mild myopia. Specifically, HAL shows superior outcomes in both preventive and corrective measures.