About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Soft bifocal contact lenses have the reading power either in the outer portion (center distance) or in the center of the contact lens (center near). Most soft bifocal contact lenses are center near, and the only daily disposable soft bifocal contact lenses available are center near. Daily disposable contact lenses eliminate the need for cleaning, lower the risk of eye infections, and provide fresh lenses on the eyes daily.

However, center near soft bifocal contact lenses have never been tested to see if they slow the progression of nearsightedness like center distance soft bifocal contact lenses. If they do, children will have several more options to slow the progression of nearsightedness, including daily disposable contact lenses, which are more convenient and safer for children.

What is the significance of this project?

One out of three adults in the US is obese, and obesity is an epidemic. Similarly, one out of three people in the US is myopic (nearsighted), and that number is increasing.

High myopia is associated with a greater risk of sight-threatening conditions, such as retinal detachment (inner portion of the eye comes off and leads to blindness), choroidal atrophy (blood supply of the eye is disrupted and leads to blindness), and glaucoma (a leading cause of blindness). Furthermore, patients with high myopia have fewer treatment options that cost more and have greater side effects.

Therefore, myopia control with soft bifocal contact lenses could potentially provide more cost-effective treatment, preserve sight, and ultimately prevent the onset of a very common vision condition.

What are the goals of the project?

The goals of this project are:
1. to determine whether myopic children fit with center near soft bifocal contact lenses exhibit slower myopia (nearsightedness) progression than those fit with regular contact lenses;

2. to determine whether myopic children fit with center near soft bifocal contact lenses exhibit slower eye growth than those fit with regular contact lenses; and

3. to determine whether where light focuses within the eye is related to how much the progression of myopia is slowed.

Ultimately, this will tell doctors whether they should recommend daily disposable soft bifocal contact lenses to slow the natural progression of nearsightedness in children and how to maximize the slower eye growth by learning about how light focus in the eye may influence the progression of myopia.