SightGlass DOT Lenses Show No Link to Astigmatism Increase in Myopia Control, Studies Find

Published: March 21, 2026

New research presented at the Netherlands Contact Lens Congress indicates that children wearing SightGlass Vision Diffusion Optics Technology (DOT) lenses did not experience an increase in astigmatism compared to those wearing control lenses. The findings address concerns raised about potential astigmatism increases associated with other myopia control methods utilizing peripheral defocus.

Astigmatism Concerns with Myopia Control

Recent discussions within the eye care community have centered on whether certain myopia control lenses, particularly those employing peripheral defocus, might contribute to an increase in astigmatism. SightGlass Vision conducted studies to investigate whether its contrast modulation technology, DOT, exhibited a similar effect.

Study Findings: No Significant Astigmatism Change

Researchers analyzed data from two clinical trials: the CYPRESS study in North America (173 eyes, ages 6-10) and the CATHAY study in China (182 eyes, ages 6-13). The studies compared changes in refractive astigmatism between children wearing SightGlass DOT lenses and those wearing control lenses over a 12-month period.

The results showed no statistically significant change in astigmatism rates in either the North American or Chinese cohorts. In the North American study, the percentage of eyes with astigmatism increased from 87% to 92%, while in the Chinese study, it decreased from 91% to 88%.

DOT Technology and Astigmatism

David Webley, BSc, MCOptom, FBCLA, Senior Director of Clinical, Medical and Professional Affairs at SightGlass Vision, emphasized the importance of interpreting the findings cautiously. “It’s important that it’s just one study, and I don’t think we can conclude very clearly that peripheral defocus lenses increase astigmatism,” he stated. “But we’re getting a lot of questions from [eye care professionals] in the field of, ‘Do your lenses lead to an increase in astigmatism as well as controlling myopia?’”

Webley theorized that the difference may lie in the mechanism of action. DOT lenses reduce contrast slightly, while peripheral defocus induces positive power in the lenses. “we could theorize that, because the power is consistent across the lens, there is unlikely to be any change within the astigmatic correction, and that might not be the same in a peripheral defocus lens.”

Consistent Efficacy Across Populations

A separate study presented at the congress compared the efficacy of SightGlass DOT lenses in North American and Chinese children. The results demonstrated consistent slowing of axial length and cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction in both populations.

Specifically, axial length slowed by –0.15 ± 0.03 mm among North American children and –0.29 mm ± 0.04 mm among Chinese children. Cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction slowed by 0.34 ± 0.07 D among North American children and 0.54 ± 0.09 D among Chinese children.

Fabio Carta, DipOptom, FBCLA, Director of Professional Affairs for EMEA & Canada at SightGlass Vision, highlighted the significance of this consistency. “There is a consistency of efficacy across diverse populations,” he said. “If you spot other clinical trials with other products in the same myopia field, you can see differences between different populations. So, it was something new.”

Study Details and Disclosures

The studies were sponsored by SightGlass Vision. Fabio Carta can be reached at fcarta@sightglassvision.com and David Webley at dwebley@sightglassvision.com.

Sources:

• Carta F, et al. Efficacy of contrast management spectacle lenses in North American and Chinese children. Presented at: Netherlands Contact Lens Congress; March 8-9, 2026; Netherlands.
• Webley D, et al. Relationship between contrast management spectacle lenses for myopia control and refractive astigmatism. Presented at: Netherlands Contact Lens Congress ; March 8-9, 2026; Netherlands.
• Wenyan X, et al. Transl Vis Sci Tech. 2025;doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.14.3.8.

Disclosures: Carta reports being director of professional affairs for EMEA & Canada at SightGlass Vision. Webley reports being senior director of clinical, medical and professional affairs at SightGlass Vision.