Myopia Control in children - Comparison of Treatment options

Efficacy of interventions for myopia control in children: A systematic review with network meta-analyses

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40219611/      Acta Ophthalmol. 2025 Apr 11 

Abstract

To determine the effectiveness of various interventions in reducing myopia progression in children. Literature databases were searched on December 2, 2023.  We identified 74 RCTs involving 12 154 participants aged 6-18 years. Network meta-analysis compared axial length after 1 year between 45 interventions and placebo or single-vision spectacles. 

The most effective interventions reported in weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval were 

1) low-level red-light (-0.33 mm (-0.40, -0.25))

2) ortho-K with 5 mm treatment zone (-0.32 mm (-0.41, -0.24))

3) ortho-K with aspheric base curve (-0.29 mm (-0.37, -0.22)), 

4) atropine 1.0% (-0.28 mm (-0.30, -0.26))

5) combined atropine 0.01% and ortho-K (-0.24 mm (-0.37, -0.11)), 

6) spectacles with highly aspherical lenslets (-0.23 mm (-0.26, -0.19)), 

7) ortho-K with increased compression factor (-0.23 mm (-0.28, -0.17), 

8) atropine 0.05% (-0.21 mm (-0.30, -0.13))

9) defocus incorporated multiple segments spectacles (-0.21 mm (-0.27, -0.15)). 

This systematic review and network meta-analysis highlights the efficacy of various interventions, including orthokeratology lenses, atropine, highly aspherical lenslets and defocus incorporated multiple segments spectacles in slowing axial elongation in children.