Academy ’26: Studies Show Children Move and Respond Naturally in DOT™ Spectacle Lenses, Similar to Standard Single-Vision Lenses

New Research Gives Eye Care Professionals Additional Evidence
to Confidently Fit DOT Myopia Control Lenses Like Any Standard Lens

DALLAS, September 28, 2026—New research from SightGlass Vision shows that children wearing DOT™ spectacle lenses for myopia control see, move, and perceive their eyewear similarly to children wearing standard single vision lenses, while gaining the added benefit of myopia control. Presented at the American Academy of Optometry 2026 Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., the findings demonstrate comparable viewing behavior and performance across everyday activities, from reading and gaming to walking and cycling, along with high quality of vision and strong satisfaction among children wearing DOT lenses. The collective outcomes should give eye care professionals greater confidence to fit DOT lenses for children with progressing myopia as readily as they would any standard single vision lens.

“We believe children wearing myopia control spectacles should have the same freedom to learn, move and play as any other child,” said Fabio Carta, Director of Professional Affairs at SightGlass Vision. “What’s encouraging about this new research is how consistently DOT lenses function like traditional eyewear from the child’s perspective. Together with the strong clinical evidence behind DOT lenses’ unique contrast management approach, these findings should further embolden practitioners to recommend the technology to young children and their families.”

Seeking to address questions that can influence myopia control decisions in everyday practice, researchers examined how children actually use DOT spectacle lenses across a range of familiar and dynamic visual tasks.

Assessment of Viewing Behavior with Contrast Modulation Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses (Long T, et al.) used eye tracking to compare children wearing DOT lenses and single vision lenses while reading, gaming, viewing a lecture, and walking. Eye and head movement patterns remained highly consistent between lens types, with no evidence that children compensated for DOT lenses by changing their gaze or head position. DOT lens treatment zone coverage also remained very high across activities in both younger and older children.

Immersive Motion Capture Evaluation of Contrast Modulation Spectacle Lenses for Myopia Control in Children (Gantes J, et al.) evaluated children during more dynamic visual tasks as they located peripheral targets, caught virtual baseballs and navigated a bicycle around obstacles. Researchers found no significant differences between DOT lenses and single vision lenses in any measured behavior, including head movements, reaction times, catching performance, speed changes and steering.

Quality of Vision in Children Wearing Diffusion Optics Technology™ Compared with Standard Spectacle Lenses (Wang D, et al.) provides new insights from SightGlass Vision’s CATHAY clinical study, which previously showed that DOT lenses for myopia control saved more than 1D of progression on average after two years in Chinese children aged 6 to 10.^1* This additional analysis extends the understanding of DOT lenses beyond efficacy, examining quality of vision among children ages 6 to 13 who wore DOT lenses or standard single vision lenses for two years. Visual disturbances, including glare, halos and hazy vision, were infrequent with both lens types and, when present, were predominantly mild and minimally bothersome. DOT lenses showed a visual-disturbance profile comparable to or more favorable than standard single vision lenses across the three symptoms assessed.

Additional findings from the CATHAY study examined children’s own perceptions of wearing DOT lenses after two years. Subjective Experience in Children Wearing Diffusion Optics Technology™ Compared with Single Vision Spectacle Lenses (Carta F, et al.) evaluated distance, near and night vision, visual acceptance, satisfaction and overall impression among children ages 6 to 13. More than 91% of responses across all six measures were positive or neutral, with no significant differences between children wearing DOT lenses and those wearing standard single vision lenses.

“One of the important questions with any myopia control spectacle lens is how children genuinely use the lens during normal visual tasks,” said David Webley, Senior Director, Clinical, Medical and Professional Affairs at SightGlass Vision. “What we’re seeing with DOT lenses is remarkably consistent behavior across a range of activities. Children are not changing their gaze or head position to compensate for the treatment zone, and their performance during dynamic tasks is comparable to standard single vision lenses. For practitioners, these findings provide important clinical reassurance that children can gain the myopia control benefit of DOT lenses without changing how they naturally use their glasses.”

DOT lenses are the first myopia management treatment specifically designed to reduce retinal contrast signalling through the incorporation of light-scattering elements.² The lenses have been proven in gold-standard clinical trials in North America and China,^3-5 and have been worn by more than two million children and counting.^6† Rather than using multiple optical powers to create peripheral defocus, DOT lenses maintain a single power across the lens.

DOT lenses have made their commercial debut in China, Canada, Israel, Spain, and the UK. Founded in 2016, SightGlass Vision now operates as a joint venture of CooperVision, Inc. and Essilor International.

For more information, visit SightGlassVision.com.

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About SightGlass Vision

SightGlass Vision™ develops innovative technologies and science-based treatments to address the global myopia epidemic, backed by novel and comprehensive research. Its unique Diffusion Optics Technology™ is based on landmark discoveries surrounding myopia progression. DOT™ spectacle lenses using its patent-protected approach incorporate thousands of light-scattering elements designed to mimic more natural contrast on the retina. DOT™ lenses provide myopia control through contrast management and have proven results from Gold-standard clinical trials in North America and China. Founded in 2016, the company now operates as a joint venture of CooperVision, Inc. and Essilor International to accelerate commercialization opportunities and expand the myopia management category worldwide.

^* Prescribed DOT lens wear time was 10 hours per day. LS Mean progression difference of 1.01D between test and control groups.
^† Not available for sale in all countries, including in the U.S.
Diffusion Optics Technology and DOT are trade marks of SightGlass Vision, Inc.© 2026 SightGlass Vision, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

Media Contact
Carson Daniels, Senior Counselor
McDougall Communications for SightGlass Vision
+1-315-427-6394 or [email protected]