Defocus-Incorporated Multiple-Segment (DIMS) Spectacle Lenses Versus Single-Vision Lenses for Myopia Control in a South-Eastern European Population

Background: Myopia is a refractive error reaching alarmingly high levels worldwide and is associated with severe complications such as: maculopathy, retinal detachment, open-angle glaucoma, and posterior subcapsular cataract. The study compared two treatment strategies: defocus-incorporated multi-segment (DIMS) spectacle lenses and single-vision (SV) lenses. Methods: 201 children (mean age 10.92 ± 2.11 years, range, 7–17 years) were included in the study (104 patients, DIMS group; 97 patients, SV group). The ophthalmological examination included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cycloplegic refractive measurement (SER), eye movement evaluation, cover test, prism cover-uncover tests for near and distance, slit-lamp evaluation, fundus examination and ocular biometry. Results: The mean SER progression in the right eye over the 12-month follow-up was −0.29 ± 0.3 D in the DIMS group and −0.58 ± 0.45 in the SV group. Children wearing DIMS exhibited significantly less myopia progression (p < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model showed no significant effect of sex or baseline axial length (AL) on SER change (p = 0.057 and 0.17, respectively), whereas treatment lens, age at diagnosis, provenance and baseline SER had a significant effect on SER change (p < 0.001). Conclusions: DIMS lenses are an effective treatment in myopia management in the Caucasian population.