Visioneering Technologies Inc yesterday released results from a pediatric study of its NaturalView multifocal contact lens intended to treat myopia, touting

Results from the trial were presented by study lead Dr. Thomas Aller of the UC Berkeley School of Optometry at the American Academy of Optometry Conference in San Antonio this week.

In the trial, investigators examined changes in vision and eye shape in myopic children wearing the NaturalVue multifocal contacts, with 24 children completing a six-month follow up and 19 completing 12 months. The average age in the study was 10.8 years old, the Atlanta-based company said.

Prior to wearing the NaturalVue lenses, children experienced worsening myopic vision by 1.28 ± 0.79 diopters per year, Visioneering Tech said. For the year the children wore  the NaturalVue multifocal lens, the rate was reduced to 0.24 diopters per year, a decrease of 1.04 diopters per year, or an 81% reduction in the rate of progression.

Data from the trial also indicated that the lenses reduced changes in eye shape in the patients, reducing from an average predicted increase in axial length of 0.43 ± 0.26 mm in the year prior to wearing the lenses to 0.20 ± 0.19 mm in the year while wearing them, Visioneering Tech said.

“The prevalence of myopia is increasing among children globally at alarming rates, and identifying better ways to manage myopia has become a top priority for vision care experts worldwide. The NaturalVue Multifocal data are very encouraging based on the level of decrease in changes in both refractive error and expected axial length growth, especially in a group of very fast progressing myopic children. To achieve more than 1.00 diopters of decrease in myopic refractive error change on a prospective basis after one year is quite remarkable and promising. The unique design of NaturalVue Multifocal offers intervention for multiple potential causes of myopic progression, and its availability as a daily disposable contact lens makes it ideal for use in children. I am excited to continue this research and follow these children into their second year of wear,” Dr. Aller  said in a press release.

Last March, Visioneering Tech said that it closed a $25.5 million (AUD $33.3 million) initial public offering in Australia, with funds going to support its NaturalVue multifocal contact lenses.

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