Bifocals for Children? May Slow Myopia Progression?

[Nia Eyeglasses]

Bifocals for Children? They May Slow Myopia Progression?

I've read about this and im not sure if its true,,

Does anyone know?

[Nia Eyeglasses]

HONG KONG, March 2010 — Children with myopia (nearsightedness) at high progression rates may benefit from bifocals, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University examined about 130 Chinese Canadian children with an average age of 10 years. They were divided into three groups of different eyeglass lenses: regular lenses, bifocal lenses and prismatic bifocals (which help the eyes work together).

After 24 months, they found that myopia progression was the most rapid among the group that wore regular, single-focus lenses. Progression was slower among the children who wore bifocals and slowest among those who wore prismatic bifocals.

[Harmony Eyeglasses]

Myopia is a common problem among children in many areas of the world, with prevalence as high as 50 percent to 60 percent by age 12 in East Asian countries, according to background information in the article. Prevalence is also high among Asian children living in Western countries. Bifocals -- glasses with two different corrective powers -- and multifocals have been tested as treatments for myopia in children with relatively ineffective results.

[Harmony Eyeglasses]

"To date, there has been no consensus on what magnitude of myopic reduction constitutes a clinically significant control effect," they conclude. "In our opinion, the treatment effect of bifocal and prismatic bifocal lenses of 38 percent and 55 percent, respectively, in this study, though greater than those of others, is still modest. Whether or not the effect tapers off will decide clinical significance. If the treatment effects continued over time, then the treatment could have a significant role in preventing the development of very high pathologic myopia." Therefore, long-term studies are needed, they note.