Effectiveness of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) Lens in Slowing Myopia Progression among Malay Schoolchildren

INTRODUCTION: Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lens imposes simultaneous myopic defocus for myopia control and has been proven to be effective in controlling myopia progression in children. However, the effectiveness of the DIMS lens may vary between different ethnicity due to different retinal profiles among children. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of DIMS lens in controlling myopia progression among myopic Malay schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a randomized control trial and was conducted as a single-site study where forty-two myopic Malay schoolchildren, (mean age of 9.53±1.50 years old) were recruited. The effectiveness of the DIMS lens was measured via changes in spherical equivalent refraction and axial length elongation for 12 months, and findings were compared with children wearing single vision (SV) lens. Data was analysed using repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA), between-within with Bonferroni correction, and p<0.05 indicated a significant difference. RESULTS: After 12 months, 38 subjects completed the study, with 20 subjects in the DIMS group and 18 subjects in the SV group. The DIMS group showed a significantly lower myopia progression; with 0.07±0.10mm increment in axial length elongation and -0.16±0.30D in spherical equivalent refraction increment compared to the SV group. The main effect comparing the changes in axial length elongation and spherical equivalent refraction increment between the DIMS group and the SV group was significant, (F=7.61, p <0.05) and (F=3.23, p<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Full time wear of the DIMS lens is significantly effective in slowing myopia progression compared to SV lens in myopic Malay schoolchildren.