The Relationship Between Contact Lens Ultraviolet Light Transmittance and Myopia Progression: A Large-Scale Retrospective Cohort Study

Medicine Ophthalmology
ultraviolet myopia progression cohort study contact lens

Research Background

In recent years, the incidence of myopia has risen dramatically worldwide, particularly in East Asia, where it has become a significant public health issue. Studies suggest that nearly 50% of the global population may suffer from myopia by 2050. Myopia not only causes blurred vision but is also closely associated with various blinding diseases such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Therefore, preventing the onset and progression of myopia has become a critical focus in ophthalmic research.

Ultraviolet (UV) light plays a complex role in the progression of myopia. On one hand, some studies suggest that UV light may help prevent the onset and progression of myopia; on the other hand, UV light is also a risk factor for eye diseases such as cataracts and pterygium. Thus, the relationship between UV light and myopia remains incompletely understood. This study aims to explore the relationship between UV transmittance of contact lenses and myopia progression through a large-scale retrospective cohort study, providing new scientific insights for myopia prevention and control.

Source of the Paper

This paper was co-authored by Hiroyuki Okada, Masao Yoshida, Masaki Takeuchi, Eiichi Okada, and Nobuhisa Mizuki. The research team is affiliated with the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Okada Eye Clinic, and the Department of Public Health at Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine. The paper was published in 2024 in the journal Precision Clinical Medicine, with the DOI 10.1093/pcmedi/pbae022.

Research Process

Study Subjects and Grouping

The dataset for this study was derived from patients aged 12 to 29 who were prescribed soft contact lenses (SCL) for refractive error correction at Okada Eye Clinic in Japan between 2002 and 2011, totaling 337,396 eyes. These patients were tracked over a five-year period without changing their contact lens type. Based on whether the contact lenses had UV protection, patients were divided into two groups: the UV-protected group (UV-SCL) and the non-UV-protected group (UV+SCL). The UV-SCL group included 170,151 eyes, while the UV+SCL group included 167,245 eyes.

Data Collection and Processing

Refractive power data were measured using an auto-refractometer (KR-3000; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan) and, when necessary, a retinoscope (RX-3ASP; Neitz, Tokyo, Japan). All refractive data were determined based on subjective and objective test results. Patients with corneal diseases, those who had undergone ophthalmic surgery, or those with intellectual disabilities were excluded from the study.

Statistical Analysis

The study compared refractive changes over five years between the two groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), stratified by gender and initial degree of myopia (high myopia, moderate myopia, and low myopia). All statistical analyses were performed using SAS statistical software (version 9.4).

Research Results

Refractive Changes

The results showed that the average refractive change over five years was -0.413D (diopters) in the UV-SCL group and -0.462D in the UV+SCL group, indicating slower myopia progression in the UV-SCL group. Stratified by gender, the refractive changes in the UV-SCL group were -0.431D for males and -0.401D for females, while in the UV+SCL group, they were -0.467D for males and -0.458D for females. Stratified by initial degree of myopia, the refractive changes in the UV-SCL group were -0.281D, -0.402D, and -0.479D for high, moderate, and low myopia, respectively, while in the UV+SCL group, they were -0.323D, -0.435D, and -0.541D, respectively. All stratified analyses showed significantly faster myopia progression in the UV+SCL group (p < 0.001).

Age and Myopia Progression

The study also found that the average age of patients in the UV+SCL group was younger than that in the UV-SCL group. Specifically, males in the UV+SCL group were 0.4 years younger, and females were 0.8 years younger. Stratified by initial degree of myopia, patients in the UV+SCL group were 0.4 years, 0.6 years, and 0.8 years younger for high, moderate, and low myopia, respectively.

Research Conclusion

Through a large-scale retrospective cohort study, this research systematically explored the relationship between UV transmittance of contact lenses and myopia progression for the first time. The results suggest that UV exposure may accelerate myopia progression, while contact lenses with UV protection can slow its progression. This finding provides new insights for myopia prevention and control, particularly in adolescent myopia management, where UV protection may become an important intervention strategy.

Research Highlights

  1. Large-Scale Sample: This study included data from over 330,000 eyes, providing results with high statistical significance.
  2. Long-Term Tracking: Patients were tracked for five years, allowing for a more accurate reflection of long-term myopia progression trends.
  3. Stratified Analysis: The study conducted stratified analyses by gender and initial degree of myopia, offering more detailed results.
  4. Public Health Significance: The findings provide new scientific evidence for myopia prevention and control, particularly in the application of UV protection.

Research Value

The scientific value of this study lies in its first large-scale retrospective cohort study that clarifies the relationship between UV exposure and myopia progression. The results offer new intervention strategies for myopia prevention and control, particularly in adolescent myopia management, where UV protection may become a crucial public health measure. Additionally, the study provides new directions for future research into the mechanisms of myopia, laying the groundwork for further exploration of the role of UV light in myopia progression.

Other Valuable Information

The study also noted that UV-protective contact lenses may not only slow myopia progression by reducing oxidative damage to ocular tissues but also potentially delay the onset of presbyopia. This finding offers new ideas for the functional design of contact lenses, paving the way for the development of multifunctional contact lens products in the future.

Through rigorous experimental design and data analysis, this study provides new scientific evidence for myopia prevention and control, holding significant theoretical and practical value.