New Developments Show Ophthalmology Embracing Myopia Control & Management

CooperVision Applauds World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus
Consensus Statement and Eye & Contact Lens Peer Review Paper

SAN RAMON, CALIF., April 20, 2023—Two newly published pieces indicate that the ophthalmology community is more broadly embracing myopia control and management, according to global category leader CooperVision.

The World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (WSPOS) has issued its Myopia Consensus Statement 2023, concluding there is “sufficient evidence to warrant the adoption of myopia prevention and control measures in clinical practice in children with progressive myopia of childhood.”¹ Independently, Eye & Contact Lens, the ophthalmological peer review journal of the Eye and Contact Lens Association, has published a paper affirming the corneal health of children who wear soft contact lenses in comparison to adult wearers.²

“We applaud the WSPOS and Eye & Contact Lens decisions to publicly address these topics, since myopia progression in children is one of the greatest ocular health issues of our lifetime. Ophthalmologists worldwide are taking a heightened interest in contact lens myopia control interventions, including increased prescribing of CooperVision MiSight^® 1 day, alongside other management options such as orthokeratology, specialized spectacle lenses, and atropine,” said Elizabeth Lumb, BSc (Hons) MCOptom, FBCLA, Director of Global Professional Affairs, Myopia Management, CooperVision.

The WSPOS guidance is based on studies that have demonstrated both statistical and clinical significance in the effectiveness of slowing myopia progression. In referring to MiSight^® 1 day, the authors share highlights from the landmark long-term, international MiSight^® 1 day clinical trial to convey its efficacy, including children aged 8 to 12 showed a 59% reduction in spherical equivalent refractive error over a 3-year period, compared to single vision contact lenses.^3†

In their Eye & Contact Lens paper, Incidence of Corneal Adverse Events in Children Wearing Soft Contact Lenses, myopia experts Mark Bullimore, MCOptom, PhD, and Kathryn Richdale, OD, PhD, note the growing interest in soft contact lens prescribing for children, in part due to specific use for slowing myopia progression. The investigators analyzed seven prospective and two retrospective peer-reviewed studies published from 2004 to 2022 on contact lens-related complications in children, totaling more than 6,000 years of wear among 2,781 patients. They concluded that children wearing soft contact lenses are at no greater risk than adults for microbial keratitis, and their incidence of corneal inflammatory events appears to be markedly lower.

“This move echoes similar steps taken by the global eye health community in recognizing that we must treat myopia in children as early as possible, and at lower levels, to have the greatest long-term impact. It is particularly encouraging to see an increasing number of eye care related professions recognizing the need to bring awareness to increasingly available evidence-based clinical interventions. Active participation by ophthalmologists is critical and we are encouraged about the gain being made there,” said Lumb.

Now available in more than 40 countries, MiSight^® 1 day is the first and only soft contact lens approved* by the U.S. FDA and China NMPA to slow the progression of myopia in age-appropriate children. CooperVision also offers a range of orthokeratology designs and spectacles with Diffusion Optics Technology^™ for myopia management.^‡

 

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^* U.S. Indications for Use: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal.

China Indications for Use: MiSight® 1 day is indicated for the correction of myopia for patients with non-diseased phakic eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 D to -4.00 D with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. It has the dual focal design with alternative multiple rings, which allows part of the light passing through the optical zone to focus in front of the retina, forming myopic defocus with the expectation to slow the change of axial length of the patients. Fitting and evaluation of the product should be in medical institutions by ophthalmologists with an intermediate title or above and with regular monitoring. It must be used in strict accordance with the IFU requirements.

Kathryn Richdale, OD, PhD is an employee of CooperVIsion, but was not at the time of this study. Mark Bullimore, MCOptom, PhD is a consultant for CooperVision.

^† Compared to a single vision 1-day lens over a 3-year period.

^‡ Spectacles with Diffusion Optics Technology are not approved for sale in the United States.

 

About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.com.

About CooperCompanies
CooperCompanies ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., Cooper has a workforce of more than 14,000 with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com

Media Contact
Mike McDougall, APR, Fellow PRSA, FAAO
McDougall Communications for CooperVision
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