Vision‐related quality of life of myopic children using combination treatment: Atropine and defocus‐incorporated multiple segment spectacle lenses

Purpose: To assess vision‐related quality of life (VR‐QoL) in children undergoing myopia control treatment with atropine compared to children treated with combination treatment of atropine and Defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses.Methods: Longitudinal study that included myopic children aged 4 to 16 years undergoing myopia control treatment. Group A included children on 0.025% atropine eyedrops and single‐vision lenses, and group B included children on combined treatment of 0.025% atropine and DIMS lenses. Demographic and clinical data, including cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL), were noted. VR‐QoL was assessed using the Children's Visual Function questionnaire (CVFQ) and the Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ) before initiating and after 6 months of treatment. Statistical analyses (Mann‐Whitney U‐test or t‐test) were performed.Results: 95 patients were included: 50 children in group A, mean age 8.94 ±2.50 years and 45 children in group B, mean age 9.51 ±2.46 years (p = 0.266). No significant differences were found in the overall VR‐QoL between both groups with PedEyeQ. Functional Vision and Social item scores (PedEyeQ) significantly improved at the 6M follow‐up in group A (p = 0.03 and p = 0.016, respectively) and group B (all p = 0.01). Scores on the Eye Condition item (PedEyeQ) at baseline and at 6M follow‐up were reversed; a decrease in group A, 89.73 [69.86‐89.73] and 64.98 [50.02‐74.99] (p < 0.01), and an increase in group B, 69.96 [69.96‐89.72] and 74.97 [43.62‐85] (p = 0.039). For the CVFQ, only Group B showed an improvement in General Vision (p = 0.049) and Competence (p = 0.031) scores.Conclusions: Myopic children treated with atropine and those using combination treatment (atropine and DIMS) do not seem to have significant differences in overall VR‐QoL following 6 months of treatment. General Vision (CVFQ), Competence (CVFQ) and Eye Condition (PedEyeQ) scores improve significantly for children on combination treatment.