German ophthalmic lens manufacturer Rodenstock released its MyCon myopia control spectacle lens into Australia in April this year and has since had positive reception from optometrists and patients.
According to the company, the lens is designed to correct myopia and reduce the rate of axial length elongation in children using peripheral defocus targeting the horizontal meridian of the retina. This ensures the child can see sharply at their point of focus.
The lens has three distinct zones:
- A central zone, where the optical power corresponds to the wearer’s nominal refraction.
- A temporal zone of progressively increasing power up to 2.5 D.
- A nasal zone of progressively increasing power up to 2.0 D.
MyCon lenses are available in index 1.5, 1.6, 1.67, and 1.74 with hard coat and antireflection options including a blue light coating. A barrier to glasses uptake by children is the issue of appearance, with MyCon lens indices offering a sleek design alternative.
Since its release, MyCon lens has been acknowledged as an accessible alternative compared to other myopia control methods such as eye-drops and contact lenses for children which are often associated with lower compliance rates.
“We started using MyCon Lenses earlier this year and everyone who has had other lens designs transitioning to Mycon have adapted to the Mycon lenses really well,” said Ms Sonya Wijaya, optometrist owner of Optical Insight in Doncaster, Victoria, and a regular presciber of MyCon.
“Options of high index for thinner lenses as well as premium coating have made a big difference in children’s compliance in wearing their spectacle correction.”
Another early adopter, Associate Professor Richard Vojlay who is optometrist owner of Collin and Kirk Optometrists in Thornbury, Victoria, stated that compliance rates are high, and children have adapted well to the lenses in a relatively short timeframe.
“The simplest modification to the child’s experience is to prescribe myopia control spectacles. No drops, no blurred vision, no glare sensitivity, no contact lenses, or cleaning regimes, just a replacement pair of spectacles. But spectacles that will reduce the rate of axial length elongation,” he said.
Vojlay said all myopia control treatments require some level of adaptation to the new visual environment and children can be incredibly tolerant of these changes. The responses to wearing MyCon lenses was no different.
“The initial reactions were positive with some disorientation from the peripheral blur, but that quickly settled as they focused on the clarity of the central vision. They usually adapted to the lenses within one to two weeks, learning to incorporate greater head movements to engage with peripheral viewing points. Certainly, these patients will have minimal difficulty adapting to multifocal lenses when they reach presbyopia,” he said.
“MyCon lenses are a welcome addition to the increasing range of myopia control spectacle treatments.”
More reading
Rodenstock MyCon myopia control lens launches in Australia
Rodenstock’s new myopia lens targets horizontal meridian
How premium Rodenstock lenses help practices provide a premium service
