ARVO 2026: DOT lenses show reduced myopia progression in children after 2 years

SightGlass Vision has reported new clinical data showing that its DOT spectacle lenses for myopia control reduced progression by more than 1D on average after 2 years in Chinese children aged 6 to 10.

The findings, presented at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting, build on previously reported 12-month CATHAY study data and evaluate the performance of DOT lenses with contrast management in children.

Across the full study population of children in China aged 6 to 13, DOT lenses slowed average myopia progression by 0.78D and average axial length progression by 0.40 mm after two years of wear compared with the control group. According to the company, this represented a 67% reduction in myopia progression and a 62% reduction in axial length progression.

The full study population results were presented by Jennifer Hill in the presentation, “Control of Myopia Using Contrast Modulation Spectacle Lenses in a Chinese Population: 24-Month Results.”

“Our CATHAY 2-year results add to the robust data that establishes DOT lenses as a high-efficacy, non-defocus spectacle solution crucial for practices engaged in myopia management to complete their portfolio,” said Andrew Sedgwick, chief executive officer of SightGlass Vision, in the release. “The strength of the outcomes, particularly in younger children, reinforces the importance of early intervention.”

Unlike defocus-based myopia control solutions, DOT lenses are designed to reduce retinal contrast signaling through the incorporation of light scattering elements. The company said the CATHAY 2-year results add to existing clinical research supporting this contrast management approach.

Additional findings showed that 59% of children wearing DOT lenses had 0.50D or less myopia progression after two years, compared with 19% of children in the control group. The difference was reported as statistically significant (p<0.0001).

The CATHAY trial was launched following the company’s four-year North American CYPRESS study. It compares DOT lenses with conventional single vision lenses and evaluates safety and efficacy in Chinese children across five clinical sites in China. A total of 172 myopic children aged 6 to 13 completed the second year of the study.

“The breadth of clinical research now available demonstrates why practitioners should adopt DOT lenses as a treatment strategy for myopia control,” said David Webley, senior director, clinical, medical, and professional affairs at SightGlass Vision, in the release. "The strong efficacy results from the CATHAY study continue to validate that contrast management, with DOT lenses, is an effective tool in the fight against the myopia epidemic."

Additional research presented at ARVO 2026 examined DOT lens performance and wearer experience. In “Pupil Size Effect on Myopia Progression with Contrast Modulation Spectacle Lenses” (Webley D et al), researchers found no significant association between pupil size and the rate of myopia progression in children wearing DOT lenses at 12 months.

Another presentation, “Viewing Behavior with Contrast Modulation Spectacle Lenses” (Kollbaum P et al), found that children demonstrated similar viewing behavior when wearing both DOT lenses and single vision lenses across a range of daily activities, suggesting visual performance across the lens consistent with previous studies.

SightGlass Vision said its DOT lenses are now commercially available in China, Canada, Israel, Spain, and the UK. Founded in 2016, the company operates as a joint venture of CooperVision, Inc and Essilor International.

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