Children aged 8–12 treated for over two years with NaturalVue Multifocal contact lenses (Visioneering Technologies, Inc), had significantly lower myopia progression versus single-vision contact lenses, according to new analyses from the ongoing PROTECT randomised clinical trial.
‘PROTECT’ (PROgressive Myopia Treatment Evaluation for NaturalVue Multifocal Contact Lens Trial) is a three-year, prospective, double-masked multi-national trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of NaturalVue Multifocal contact lenses for slowing myopia progression. The study involves 145 children with participating investigators in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Treatment effects were consistent across age, sex, pupil size, familial, and lifestyle variables, indicating age of initiation did not meaningfully alter efficacy
Control What We Can Control
VTI’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ashley Tuan, presented both a scientific poster and podium session at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS), evaluating how clinical, familial, and social risk factors influence myopia progression – and how treatment modifies their impact.¹
Dr Tuan reported that children fitted with NaturalVue Multifocal contact lenses for over two years had 0.59 D less refractive progression and 0.22 mm less axial elongation.
Additionally, Dr Tuan reported that:
- Machine-learning analyses identified age as the strongest driver of progression under natural history, while treatment with NaturalVue Multifocal reduced the overall impact of known risk factors by approximately 45–58%,
- Treatment effects were consistent across age, sex, pupil size, familial, and lifestyle variables, indicating age of initiation did not meaningfully alter efficacy, and
- Under natural progression, females demonstrated faster progression than males; this sex-based risk factor was minimised in children wearing NaturalVue Multifocal.
“These results reinforce what we see clinically – that myopia progression is influenced by many factors outside a clinician’s control,” said Dr Tuan, “The PROTECT data show that NaturalVue Multifocal helps reduce the impact of that variability, allowing practitioners to focus on what they can control: early intervention, consistent wear, and predictable outcomes – while still letting kids be kids in today’s real-world environments.”
Putting the Data to Work
In a separate GSLS presentation, Dr Brett O’Connor, an optometrist at Pullen Eye Care in Jacksonville, Florida, and a member of the Visioneering Technologies, Inc. Speaker’s Bureau, spoke how these data can be translated into day-to-day patient care. He said NaturalVue Multifocal’s single catenary optical design supports myopia management, presbyopia, and many astigmatic patients; simplifying fitting decisions in busy practices. Additionally, he said the straightforward fitting process and ability to make intuitive on-eye adjustments reduce chair time and troubleshooting, making the lens practical for routine use across a broad range of patients.
By extending depth of focus rather than relying on discrete focal zones, Dr O’Connor observed that the contact lenses’ neurofocus optics design supports functional distance, intermediate, and near vision across life stages
Additionally, he said the clinical data demonstrate strong visual acuity outcomes in patients with up to 3.00 D of astigmatism, without requiring a toric lens.²
“In my practice, these features translate into easier adaptation and consistent vision quality for patients,” said Dr O’Connor. “That helps patients succeed in real-world settings and gives clinicians confidence in predictable outcomes.”
References
- Tuan A, Novak S, Dillehay S, PROTECT Study Group. Clinical, familial, and social risk factors for myopia progression: learnings from the PROTECT 2-year data. Poster presented at Global Specialty Lens Symposia; January 8, 2026; Las Vegas, NV.
- Tuan A. New evidence uncovered: 2-year RCT findings in myopia management, astigmatism, and vision outcomes with NaturalVue. Presented at American Academy of Optometry; 10 October, 2025; Boston, MA. Astigmatism study conducted by Carracedo G., Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
