Electrophysiological response of myopic young adults with a novel ophthalmic lens for the control of myopia progression

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: To evaluate the changes in the electrophysiological response of the retina induced by a novel perifocal ophthalmic lens designed for myopia control.Methods: This experimental cross‐sectional study, evaluated eleven myopic participants (24.9 ± 4.5 years) with refractive errors lower than 6.00 D (spherical equivalent of −2.40 ± 1.32 D in the right eye and − 2.24 ± 1.56 D in the left eye). Refraction, best‐corrected visual acuity, and axial length were obtained at baseline. The global flash multifocal electroretinogram (gf‐mfERG) was assessed for the sensorial dominant eye with the RETI‐port/scan21 (Roland Consult, Wiesbaden, Germany). The gf‐mfERG recordings were performed with a stimulus array pattern of 61‐scaled hexagons displayed on a 19‐inch RGB monitor at a 33 cm distance (optically corrected). The retina was divided into three groups ‐ the fovea (that included concentric ring 1), the parafovea (rings 2 and 3) and the peripheral retina (rings 4 and 5). The peak‐time (in milliseconds, ms), the amplitude (in nano‐volts, nV) and the mean response density (nV/deg2) of the direct and implicit components (DC and IC, respectively) were analysed and compared between control (monofocal contact lenses) and test conditions (perifocal lenses). These lenses have an add power of +2.50 D on the temporal side, and + 2.00 D on the nasal side, intended to change the peripheral refraction.Results: No differences were found in the DC and IC peak time between the control and test measurements, for the fovea, parafovea and peripheral retina. The mean response density of the DC was higher with the perifocal lens for the perifovea (p‐value = 0.033) and for the peripheral retina (p‐value = 0.026). For the IC, the mean response density was also higher with the perifocal lens, only for the parafovea (p‐value = 0.003).Conclusions: Perifocal lenses for myopia control upregulate the parafoveal and peripheral retinal electrical activity.