The School of Optometry of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and ZEISS Vision Care (ZEISS) announced their latest collaborative initiative, ZEISS MyoCare Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses (ZEISS MyoCare Lenses). The lenses utilise PolyU's patented Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) technology for myopia management. Through this collaboration, the two parties joined forces to drive better control and management of myopia in children globally. This collaboration has enabled ZEISS to adopt PolyU's patented DISC technology in its specialist optical products, integrating authoritative academic ophthalmic research with cutting-edge ophthalmological technology to provide the public with new effective professional vision care solutions.
The ZEISS MyoCare Lenses uses PolyU's DISC technology, its patented design adds a set of specialised optical microstructures to the general refractive myopia correction optical structure. The two sets of optical structures are arranged alternately on the lens surface. The corrective area projects the image onto the retina, allowing the wearer to see a clear image, while the optical microstructures project another set of images in front of the retina, i.e., the "forward optical defocus" signal, utilising the eye's natural emmetropisation feedback mechanism to guide the eye and slow down the growth of the eyeball axis of myopic patients. The technology is completely non-invasive and has undergone multiple basic experiments and clinical verifications, proven to be safe, effective and without significant side effects.
The ZEISS MyoCare Lenses also incorporate patented ZEISS C.A.R.E.® technology. It can effectively decelerate the rate of myopia progression by 48% to 63% and diminish axial length increase by 41% to 77%. Furthermore, with the ZEISS ClearFocus design, these lenses provide wearers with clear vision regardless of viewing distance and direction, and are easy to adapt to, with over 95% of child wearers able to adapt to the lenses within three days.
A recent 12-month research report shows that nearly 90% of children wearing ZEISS MyoCare Lenses experienced a notable slowdown in myopia progression. Asian children with emmetropia who wear ZEISS MyoCare Lenses can effectively slow down the average axial length growth in Asian children by up to 70%.
Mitigating the Risk of Myopia Progression in Children with Parental Myopia
Research confirmed that genetic factors, such as having parents with myopia, increases a child's risk of developing myopia. However, a 12-month clinical study has shown that compared to wearing regular single vision lenses, using ZEISS MyoCare Lenses can effectively slow down myopia progression, even for children with myopic parents, who are especially at risk of developing myopia. This indicates that these lenses can help parents with myopia reduce the increased risk of myopia development in their children, essentially breaking the cycle of worsening myopia each generation.
Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, "PolyU has always been committed to promoting technology transfer. The DISC technology for myopia management is an excellent example to demonstrate how academic research can be transformed into effective industry solutions, offering an additional option in the market for those in need. It is a great pleasure to collaborate with ZEISS, a leading optical brand, to jointly strive for excellence in the development of myopia control for the benefit of community."
Mr David Ferran, Vice president, Latin America, Iberia & Asia -C, Vision Care Business Group, ZEISS, added, "ZEISS has been working closely with PolyU for many years. Through this collaboration, we will jointly develop more innovative technologies, aiming to bring the best ophthalmological technology into vision correction solutions, collectively addressing the threat posed by myopia and promoting the well-being of children worldwide."
Mr Calvin Kwan, President of The Hong Kong Optometric Association, said: "Myopia is a serious issue among Hong Kong children, and age 6 to 12 years old is the 'golden period' for myopia control. Parents should seize the opportunity to provide the best and most effective myopia control measures for their children, safeguarding their eye health and preventing the development of high myopia and other long-term eye health problems."
