A Randomized Clinical Trial of Short-Term Effects of Glasses Correction for Low to Moderate Hyperopia in Children: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: To report the short-term effect of glasses correction for low to moderate hyperopia on measures of reading, visual attention and visual function in children using a placebo-controlled, masked, randomized, multi-center clinical trial. Methods: Children ages 6 to <12 years with +1.00 D to < +4.00 D hyperopia and without strabismus or amblyopia were prospectively enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to Transitions® photochromatic lenses with hyperopic correction or no correction. The primary outcome measures were change in reading (decoding and reading comprehension). Secondary outcome measures were change in attention and changes in visual function. The primary outcome exam was 6 weeks after glasses were dispensed. Results: There were no significant improvements in reading comprehension or decoding after 6 weeks of glasses wear. Participants assigned to the correction group experienced a greater improvement of 9.14 standard score (95% CI: 4.8, 13.5) in CAS Total Attention score while the change was only 3.46 standard score (95% CI: -1.0, 7.9) among those in the placebo group (p = .074). This result appears to have been driven by a significant improvement in Receptive Attention where the change in the correction group was approximately 3.5 times greater than in the placebo group (between-group p = .044). There was a statistically significant between group difference in accommodative response at both the dispensing (immediate change after glasses; p < .001) and 6-week examination (p = .012). Conclusions: Six weeks of glasses correction for low to moderate levels of hyperopia (2.00 D mean) resulted in no change in reading but significant improvements in receptive attention after 6 weeks of treatment in children age 6 to <12 years.