DSDO Spectacles Delay Myopia Onset in Children, Study Finds

A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Ophthalmology has shown that daily use of diversified segmental defocus optimization (DSDO) spectacle lenses significantly delays the onset and progression of myopia in children. The findings suggest that DSDO spectacles could serve as an effective, non-invasive intervention for myopia prevention in pediatric populations.

Study Overview: Investigating Myopia Prevention Strategies

The research, led by Dr. Yuchang Lu of Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing, evaluated the efficacy of DSDO spectacles with or without low-dose atropine (0.01%) in preventing myopia among children aged 5 to 12 years.

A total of 370 children without myopia were randomly assigned into three groups:

• DSDO group: DSDO spectacles with placebo eye drops (121 participants)

• DSDOA group: DSDO spectacles with 0.01% atropine eye drops (125 participants)

• Control group: Single-vision spectacles with placebo eye drops (124 participants)

Key Findings: Significant Reduction in Myopia Incidence and Progression

At the end of the one-year follow-up, the cumulative incidence of myopia was:

• 5.8% in the DSDO group

• 4.8% in the DSDOA group

• 15.3% in the control group

In terms of rapid myopic shift, the proportion of affected children was:

• 15.7% in the DSDO group

• 9.6% in the DSDOA group

• 42.7% in the control group

Both DSDO and DSDOA groups showed a significant reduction in myopia incidence compared with controls:

• DSDO: 9.5% absolute reduction

• DSDOA: 10.5% absolute reduction

Similarly, there was a marked decrease in the percentage of children with rapid myopia progression:

• DSDO: 27.0% lower than control

• DSDOA: 33.1% lower than control

Importantly, no statistically significant difference was observed between the DSDO and DSDOA groups, suggesting that the spectacle design alone is highly effective in delaying the onset of myopia.

Conclusion: A Promising Tool for Myopia Prevention

The study concludes that DSDO spectacle lenses, when used daily, effectively delay the onset and slow the progression of myopia in children without existing refractive errors. The authors suggest that this lens technology could be a viable, non-pharmacologic option for myopia prevention on a broad scale.

"The daily use of DSDO spectacle lenses delayed the onset of myopia and slowed its progression among children without myopia; thus, the use of these lenses might be an effective alternative preventive method for myopia in children without myopia," the authors write.

Reference:

Yuchang Lu et al, Diversified Segmental Defocus Optimization Lenses With and Without Atropine for Myopia Prevention, JAMA Ophthalmology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.2072