A small Australian study comparing CooperVision’s MiSight myopia-controlling disposable contact lenses and the myopia-control effects of two investigational spatio-temporal optical phase (STOP) soft contact lens designs (nthalmic/Brighten Optix’s F2 and DT) found F2 outperformed MiSight in some aspects of subjective visual performance and monocular accommodative function.

Researchers described New South Wales-based nthalmic’s STOP technology as aiming to provide a dynamic optical cue through the combination of optical and peripheral carrier zones. The lenses’ optical zones contain rotationally asymmetric power maps designed to create a type of astigmatic blur that may have efficacy in reducing myopia progression. The lens fit, including the peripheral carrier zone, is configured to facilitate free on-eye rotation to provide an optical cue that is dynamic, rather than static, as found in MiSight CLs, they said.

The study’s 28 participants were aged 27.5±6.0 years, 50.0% were Asian, 42.9% were White, and 7.1% ‘other’ ethnicity. Researchers said the two measures of visual performance – subjective ratings and visual acuity (VA) – showed F2 was rated higher than MiSight for clarity of vision (intermediate and near) and lack of ghosting, while MiSight was rated higher than DT for clarity of vision at near. The mean VA was generally better with MiSight, achieving statistical significance for monocular high-contrast visual acuity (HCVA) at 6m and binocular HCVA at 6m and 70cm, compared with both F2 and DT.

The efficacy of STOP designs for reducing myopia progression compared with MiSight will be further assessed in a multi-site, randomised clinical trial, said the study authors.

For more on nthalmic’s STOP design, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2pNYKXbaOc