vp-india-2026-sep-oct

axial length. This provides a broader picture than treating every prescription increase as an isolated event. For optical practices, the conversation can therefore move beyond whether a child needs a stronger prescription towards whether they may benefit from a myopia management strategy. SPECTACLE LENSES ARE MOVING FORWARD One of the most important developments for the optical industry has been the evolution of spectacle lens design. Newer myopia control lenses are designed to do more than provide clear central vision. Different technologies use optical strategies such as peripheral defocus or highly aspherical lenslets to influence signals associated with excessive axial eye growth. A randomised clinical trial published in JAMA Ophthalmology in August 2026 followed 159 children aged six to 12 and compared highly aspherical lenslet spectacle lenses with conventional single vision lenses over 24 months. The study reported a 71% relative reduction in myopia progression and a 53% relative reduction in axial elongation in the lenslet group. For opticians, the development is particularly relevant. Spectacles remain familiar, non-invasive and practical for many children, while the lens itself can form part of a broader myopia management strategy. ATROPINE ADDS MORE EVIDENCE Pharmacological treatment remains another important part of the conversation. The CHAMP-UK trial, published in The BMJ in June 2026, investigated 0.01% atropine in 289 children aged six to 12 over two years. The multicentre, placebo-controlled trial found significantly less 45 VISION PLUS INDIA EDITION