Distribution of Baseline Soft Contact Lens Power by Age in the Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) Study

Abstract

Purpose: : To characterize the distribution of baseline soft contact lens (SCL) correction by age at presentation in a retrospective chart review of SCL wearers.

Methods: : A chart review was conducted of 3,549 SCL patients from 8 to 33 years old at six academic clinics in North America. All clinical eye care visits from January 2006 to 2009 were captured into a centralized database. Among the data captured were SCL power (+8.00 to -12.00 D) and SCL type at each visit. SCL power and type was analyzed for the right eye only.

Results: : At the baseline visit, the frequency of SCL powers was greatest from plano to -3.75 D (63%) and the least > +4.00 (1%). More than 15% of the 8 to 12 year olds presented with SCL power > +4.00 D while 15% of 26 to 33 year olds had SCL powers > -6.00 D. A significantly (p<0.0001) higher percentage of 8 to 12 year olds were found to have hyperopic lens power (+0.25 to +8.00 D) when compared to 13-33 year olds (p<0.0001). Conversely, a significantly (p<0.0001) greater percentage of the 26 to 33 year olds demonstrated high myopia (> -6.00 D). The highest rate of anisometropia (>1.00 D spherical equivalent difference between eyes) was in the 8 to 12 year olds (14%) compared to 9% of the 13 to 33 year olds (p=0.006). There was a higher frequency of daily disposable prescriptions for 8 to 12 year olds compared to all other patients (p=0.04). Toric prescriptions were not more likely among 8 to 12 year olds (p=0.09).

Conclusions: : Baseline data show a different refractive profile for SCL correction for children from ages 8 to 12 as compared to adolescents and young adults. Practitioners are likely prescribing SCL for management of anomalies associated with high hyperopic refractive correction and anisometropia in children.

Keywords: contact lens