New myopia control spectacle lens technology to be presented by SightGlass Vision at COOC

The last several decades have seen a steady rise in the prevalence of myopia worldwide, notably under the effect of lifestyle changes. It is estimated that nearly 5 billion people will be myopic by 2050. (Photo courtesy of SightGlass Vision)

New myopia control spectacle lens technology from SightGlass Vision, in partnership with Nikon Lenswear, will be shared at the International Congress of Ophthalmology and Optometry China (COOC) conference in Shanghai April 14-16, 2023.

Spectacle lenses with Diffusion Optics Technology from SightGlass Vision use thousands of micro-dots to softly scatter light to reduce contrast on the retina, a unique mechanism of action to control myopia progression in children.

According to a press release from SightGlass, "Over the last 18 months, this patent-protected technology with clinically proven efficacy^1-3 made its commercial debut in several markets, including China. The company operates as a joint venture of CooperCompanies and EssilorLuxottica.

During COOC, SightGlass Vision and Nikon Lenswear will demonstrate the latest lens iteration, featuring enhanced aesthetics that make the micro-dots less visible during everyday wear.

In addition, Marcella McParland and Lucill Wang from the SightGlass Vision Clinical, Medical and Professional Affairs team will present with several ophthalmology key opinion leaders, including Dr. Peter Chen from Shanghai ENT and Dr. Liu Longqian from West China Center of Medical Sciences of Sichuan University, to present multiple case reviews and explain results from its multi-year CYPRESS clinical trial.

The company has also begun a separate clinical trial in China.

“Since our launch with Nikon in China several months ago, momentum has continued to grow,” said Andrew Sedgwick, CEO of SightGlass Vision.

“No other country has the depth of understanding and awareness of myopia’s impact on society as China, nor the experience of its clinical community with the disease. Our introduction of new, evidence-based Diffusion Optics Technology to help reach an even larger segment of children has been widely embraced—something we expect to see first-hand at COOC.”

The last several decades have seen a steady rise in the prevalence of myopia worldwide, notably under the effect of lifestyle changes. Today affecting 2.6 billion people globally, it is estimated that nearly 5 billion people—half the world’s population—will be myopic by 2050.⁴

Uncorrected myopia is the leading cause of visual impairment in children. Over time, its progression may contribute to an increased risk of developing permanent vision impairment, including macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataract and glaucoma, and blindness associated with high myopia.⁵

Beyond China, spectacle lenses with Diffusion Optics Technology are currently available in the Netherlands and Israel, as well as through preliminary market trials in other countries. For more information, visit SightGlassVision.com.

References:

1. Control of myopia using Diffusion Optics Technology™ spectacle lenses: 12-month results of a randomised controlled, efficacy and safety study (CYPRESS). British Journal of Ophthalmology Published Online First: 01 September 2022. DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2021-321005

2. Joe Rappon, Jay Neitz, Maureen Neitz, Carol Chung, Thomas Walter Chalberg; Two-year effectiveness of a novel myopia management spectacle lens with full-time WEARERS. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2022;63(7):408

3. A 36-month clinical trial demonstrated safety and efficacy for children ages six to 10 at enrolment, significantly reducing both axial length and cycloplegic SER progression versus the control. The study has been recognized for its rigor, designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled, subject and observer masked, multi-site, three-arm parallel group clinical trial with diverse subjects reflecting the U.S. population. Laughton, D et al. Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Spectacle Lens for Myopia Control Over Three Years. 2022 American Academy of Optometry annual meeting. 27 Oct 2022.

4. Holden et al. Global Prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016. 123(5):1036-42

5. Tideman JW et al. Association of axial length with risk of uncorrectable visual impairment for Europeans with myopia. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134:1355-1363