Clinical Trial: Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy of Short Exposure to Defocus to Slow the Progression of Myopia in Children

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy of Short Exposure to Defocus to Slow the Progression of Myopia in Children

Brief Summary: The objective of this pilot study is to establish whether brief periods of high levels of acutely imposed myopic defocus can be used to slow the progression of myopia in children, as measured by changes in spherical equivalent refraction and axial length.

Detailed Summary: Recent results on animal models of myopia suggest that the eye has the ability to detect the overall sign of defocus of images falling on the retina, with myopic defocus imposed by the fitting of plus-lenses halting or slowing axial elongation of the eye. In the animal models, these STOP growth signals have been shown to be particularly strong - with brief periods of high myopic defocus able to outweigh the effects of prolonged periods of imposed hyperopic defocus in promoting eye growth. These results therefore suggest a novel strategy for preventing the progression of myopia in children - the imposition of high levels of myopia for brief periods of time. This approach is conceptually distinct from under-correction, which imposes chronic mild myopic defocus.
Sponsor: Singapore National Eye Centre

Current Primary Outcome: Myopia progression as measured by spherical equivalent, and axial length [ Time Frame: 12 month ]

Original Primary Outcome: Myopia progression as measured by spherical equivalent, and axial length

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Singapore National Eye Centre

Dates:
Date Received: November 15, 2006
Date Started: November 2006
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 11, 2010
Last Verified: May 2010