Studies using concentric ring bifocal and peripheral add multifocal contact lenses to slow myopia progression in school-aged children: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of soft contact lens with concentric ring bifocal and peripheral add multifocal designs on controlling myopia progression in school-aged children.

Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and reference lists of included trials. Methodological quality of included trials was assessed using Jadad Scale and Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale items.

Results: We identified five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies with a total of 587 myopic children. Compared with the control group, concentric ring bifocal soft contact lenses showed less myopia progression with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 0.31 D (95% CI, 0.05~0.57 D, p = 0.02) and less axial elongation with a WMD of -0.12 mm (95% CI, approximately -0.18 to -0.07 mm, p < 0.0001) at 12 months. Relative to the control group, peripheral add multifocal soft contact lenses showed less myopia progression with a WMD of 0.22 D (95% CI 0.14~0.31 D, p < 0.0001) and less axial elongation of -0.10 mm (95% CI -0.13~0.07 mm, p < 0.0001) at 12 months, respectively. The soft contact lenses with concentric ring bifocal and peripheral add multifocal designs produced additional myopia control rates of 30~38% for slowing myopia progression and 31~51% for lessening axial elongation within 24 months.

Conclusions: Both concentric ring bifocal and peripheral add multifocal soft contact lenses are clinically effective for controlling myopia in school-aged children, with an overall myopia control rates of 30~50% over 2 years. Concentric ring bifocal soft contact lenses seem to have greater effect than peripheral add multifocal soft contact lenses.