Applying simultaneous defocus technology to raise the standard of myopia control and address global problem of myopia
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is a common vision condition in which people have difficulty seeing distant objects but can see nearby objects clearly. The condition occurs when the eyeball is too long. Thus, light entering the eye is focused in front of the retina, resulting in blurry vision.
Myopia affects between 70% and 90% of school-age children in Hong Kong and around 30% of people worldwide. It can develop into a potentially sightthreatening condition, affecting 10% of patients. By 2050, there will be five billion people with myopia (49.8% of the world population) and one billion people with high myopia (9.8% of the world population). Myopia affects the health and quality of life of individuals. The increasing prevalence of this condition calls for efforts to better control it.
Led by Prof. To Chi-ho, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), RCSV members Prof. Carly Lam and Dr Dennis Tse have designed novel spectacle lenses and contact lenses—including the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lens and Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lens for control of myopia progression in schoolchildren. The DISC lens has been found to be highly effective, slowing myopia progression by approximately 60%. If left untreated in childhood, such progression could lead to severe visual impairment and blindness later in life.
These lenses have contributed to evidence-based clinical practice in myopia control for children and received high marks from clinicians. The work of this RCSV team has been extended to over 25 research institutes. The patented and licensed lenses are now commercially available in Hong Kong and beyond.
The DISC lens and DIMS spectacle lens have attracted numerous international awards. The DISC lens was awarded the Gold Medal and a special grand prize at the 39th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva in 2011 while the DIMS spectacle lens won the champion grand prize at the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva in 2018; and the 2020 SILMO d’Or Award (Vision) at the prestigious SILMO Optical Fair, one of the world’s top optical fairs. The team also won the PolyU President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer: Industry 2021 (Team Award) in recognition of their impactful leadership and commitments to the research in applying the simultaneous defocus technology to advance the standard of myopia control and address a global problem.
