Peer-reviewed article
Efficacy of Diversified Segmental Defocus Optimization Lenses on Axial Length Growth in Children and Adolescents with or without Myopia: Evidence from a Multicenter Clinical Practice.
Longbo Wen, Yuanfang Yang, Yongchuan He, Chao Zhou, Jiwen Yang et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study evaluated the effectiveness of diversified segmental defocus optimization lenses in slowing axial length growth (a marker of myopia progression) in children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 in China. The research compared these lenses with another type of myopia control lens and no correction across 1,541 participants in multiple eye hospitals. The lenses showed modest but statistically significant benefits in slowing eye elongation, particularly in children under 10 years old and those with low myopia. Early intervention with appropriate lenses during the first 6 months appeared most effective.
Key points
- Diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) lenses reduced axial elongation by 0.02 mm at 6 months and 0.02 mm at 12 months compared to DIMS lenses in myopic children
- In non-myopic children, DSDO lenses limited axial growth to 0.18 mm versus 0.29 mm in untreated controls at 12 months
- Children aged 10 years or younger and those with low myopia showed greater benefit from DSDO lenses
- Most pronounced effect occurred within the first 6 months of treatment
- Baseline axial length was a significant predictor of subsequent growth, while sex did not influence outcomes
Limitations
The study was conducted in a single hospital group chain in China, limiting generalizability to other populations and healthcare settings. The clinical significance of the small absolute differences in axial elongation (0.02 mm) is unclear and may not translate to meaningful improvements in long-term visual outcomes.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate real-world efficacy of diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) lenses in controlling axial length (AL) growth compared with defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) lenses and no optical correction in children and adolescents with or without myopia. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, clinical practice study. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 6 to 16 were recruited from 8 Aier Eye Hospital Group centers in China and wore DSDO lenses, DIMS lenses, or no optical correction. METHODS: Axial length was measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment initiation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance baseline characteristics. Axial length changes were compared between DSDO and DIMS lenses in the myopia cohort and between DSDO lenses and untreated control participants in the nonmyopia cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in AL over the 6-month and 12-month follow-up periods. RESULTS: A total of 1541 participants were included (myopic group: 654 receiving DSDO lenses and 661 receiving DIMS lenses; nonmyopic group: 85 receiving DSDO lenses and 141 control participants). After PSM, baseline age, sex, spherical equivalent (SE), and AL were well balanced. In the myopic cohort, AL elongation was 0.07 ± 0.12 mm with DSDO lenses and 0.09 ± 0.10 mm with DIMS lenses at 6 months (P = 0.026) and 0.17 ± 0.18 mm versus 0.19 ± 0.16 mm, respectively, at 12 months (P = 0.019). In the nonmyopic cohort, AL growth was 0.18 ± 0.14 mm with DSDO lenses and 0.29 ± 0.14 mm in untreated control participants at 12 months (P = 0.01) and was greater in the hyperopic or emmetropic subgroup (0.00 < SE ≤ 1.50 diopters; P = 0.004). The most pronounced effect was observed within the first 6 months in the nonmyopic control participants. In the myopic cohort, subgroup analyses revealed greater efficacy in children 10 years of age or younger (P = 0.022) and in the low-myopia subgroup (P = 0.001). Age and intervention type independently predicted AL changes, whereas sex did not. Notably, baseline AL was significant determinant of subsequent AL changes in the myopia cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with DIMS lenses, DSDO lenses provide greater control of axial elongation in specific myopic subgroups and effectively suppress physiologic axial growth in nonmyopic children and adolescents. The greatest advantage occurs during the first 6 months and among younger children with low baseline refractive error, highlighting the importance of early, individualized optical intervention for effective myopia prevention and control. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) lenses fitted and worn by children and adolescents
- Population
- Children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years with myopia or without myopia, recruited from 8 Aier Eye Hospital Group centers in China
Key finding
At 12 months, DSDO lenses limited axial elongation to 0.17 ± 0.18 mm compared to 0.19 ± 0.16 mm with DIMS lenses in myopic children (P = 0.019)
Wen et al. · PubMed (US National Library of Medicine) · 20 Apr 2026