Highly aspherical lenslet target (HALT) technology is an effective, non-invasive intervention for slowing the progression of myopia of prematurity (MOP), according to a new study.1

MOP is a refractive error that occurs in children born prematurely and is considered a distinct entity from pathologic and school-age myopia.

Although the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of MOP remains unclear, what is known is that children affected by MOP are at risk of developing high myopia, with an increased lifelong cumulative risk of related complications.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine,1 evaluated the progression of MOP in children previously affected by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who wore spectacles with HALT compared to conventional single-vision lenses during childhood for at least12 months.

Fifty-eight preterm children were included in the study: 38 subjects (66%) in the standard lenses group and 20 subjects (34%) in the HALT lenses group.

Measurement of spherical equivalent progression and axial length elongation at 12 months in the HALT group (-0.32 ± 0.20D and 0.12 ± 0.05 mm) was lower compared to the standard group (-0.93 ± 0.34D and 0.46 ± 0.09 mm, p < 0.0001).

The authors described HALT lenses as “a promising strategy for managing myopia in this vulnerable population”, which “should be considered as part of a targeted myopia control approach”.

“By reducing the rate of MOP progression, HALT lenses may improve long-term visual outcomes and decrease the risk of future myopia-related ocular complications, ultimately enhancing quality of life. Furthermore, this selected high-risk population may serve as a proof of concept supporting the efficacy of HALT technology in the broader myopic population, suggesting that its use in carefully selected high-risk subgroups may reduce the lifelong cumulative risk of visual impairment associated with myopia.”

They recommended further investigation of HALT technology in selected subgroups of patients at high-risk of severe myopia.

Reference available at mivision.com.au.