At Vision China 2026, researchers from Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital presented groundbreaking 7-year follow-up data on H.A.L.T. technology lenses, demonstrating sustained myopia control effectiveness that could transform how millions of Chinese children are protected from progressive nearsightedness and its associated vision complications.
The Myopia Crisis: Why This Matters
Myopia, or nearsightedness, has reached epidemic proportions in China, with prevalence rates exceeding 80% among high school graduates in some urban areas. This condition not only requires lifelong vision correction but also increases the risk of serious eye diseases later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
The challenge for clinicians has been finding interventions that not only slow myopia progression in the short term but maintain their effectiveness over the critical years of childhood eye development. Many treatments show promising initial results but lose efficacy over time, leaving children vulnerable to continued progression.
Against this backdrop, the 7-year follow-up data presented at Vision China 2026 represents a significant milestone in evidence-based myopia management, providing the long-term data that clinicians and parents have been seeking.
7-Year Results: Sustained Efficacy Confirmed
Professor Bao Jinhua’s team from the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University presented extended follow-up results from a 2-year prospective randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial, now extended to 7 years of observation. The findings provide robust evidence for the long-term effectiveness of H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) technology.
Key Findings
- Sustained Efficacy: H.A.L.T. technology lenses continued to slow myopia progression through the 7th year of follow-up
- Myopia Control: Average delay of myopia progression by 2.30 diopters compared to single vision lens control group extrapolation
- Axial Length Control: Average delay of axial elongation by 0.92 mm compared to controls
- Long-Term Safety: No significant adverse effects observed over the extended follow-up period
These results are particularly significant because they demonstrate that the technology’s effectiveness does not diminish over time, a concern with some myopia control interventions. The sustained effect through 7 years covers the critical period of childhood when myopia progression is most rapid.
Professor Bao emphasized that the extended follow-up provides crucial reassurance for both clinicians and parents: “The 7-year data confirms that H.A.L.T. technology delivers consistent, long-term myopia control. This is exactly the evidence we need to confidently recommend this intervention to families seeking to protect their children’s vision.”
Astigmatism Safety: No Additional Risk
One concern with myopia control lenses has been their potential impact on astigmatism development. At the 2026 ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) annual meeting, comparative research addressed this question directly.
ARVO 2026 Findings
- H.A.L.T. technology lenses showed astigmatism progression rates equivalent to single vision lenses
- No acceleration of astigmatism development observed in children wearing H.A.L.T. lenses
- The technology provides myopia control benefits without compromising refractive outcomes in other dimensions
This finding removes a significant barrier to adoption, as clinicians can now confidently prescribe H.A.L.T. technology lenses knowing they will not negatively impact astigmatism development in their young patients.
H.A.L.T. MAX Technology: Real-World Evidence
Beyond the controlled clinical trial data, real-world evidence for the next-generation H.A.L.T. MAX technology was presented by Dr. Wang Lingling from Distinct HealthCare Eye Clinic (Shenzhen). This technology, launched last year, builds on the original H.A.L.T. platform with enhanced efficacy.
Real-World Study Details
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Sample Size | 109 real-world patients |
| Follow-up Period | 6-9 months |
| Axial Length Growth Reduction | ~66% decrease in quarterly growth rate |
| Absolute Reduction | 0.050-0.081 mm quarterly decrease in axial elongation |
| Effective Control Rate | 48.72-61.54% achieved significant myopia control |
Dr. Wang noted that the technology showed particularly strong effects in younger children and those with faster axial progression: “H.A.L.T. MAX technology lenses can delay axial elongation within one year, with more significant effects in younger children and those with faster progression. This provides an ideal myopia management solution for a wide age range of myopic children.”
From a clinical practice perspective, Dr. Wang emphasized the importance of early intervention: “Early intervention and consistent long-term wear of H.A.L.T. MAX technology lenses can help children with myopia or insufficient hyperopia reserve achieve stable and continuous myopia control benefits.”
Clinical Implications: What This Means for Patients
The comprehensive evidence presented at Vision China 2026 has significant implications for clinical practice and patient care.
For Clinicians
- Long-term efficacy data supports confident prescription of H.A.L.T. technology lenses
- Safety profile confirmed for both myopia and astigmatism outcomes
- Real-world evidence complements clinical trial data, demonstrating effectiveness in routine practice
- Technology suitable for a broad age range of pediatric patients
For Parents and Patients
- 7-year efficacy data provides confidence in long-term treatment outcomes
- No increased risk of astigmatism development addresses safety concerns
- Real-world results confirm that clinical trial benefits translate to everyday use
- Early intervention maximizes cumulative benefits during critical development years
For Healthcare Systems
- Effective myopia control may reduce future burden of myopia-related complications
- Evidence-based intervention supports informed healthcare policy decisions
- Long-term data enables better cost-effectiveness assessments
Future Directions: Personalized Myopia Management
Chen Xi, General Manager of the High-End Market Professional Solutions Division at EssilorLuxottica China, outlined the company’s vision for the future of myopia management:
“EssilorLuxottica has long been committed to the Chinese eye health market. Evidence-based medicine is our foundation for research and development. We rely on multiple clinical study data to continuously validate technology efficacy. In the future, Stellest will continue to focus on the differentiated eye care needs of children and adolescents, empowering technological innovation with high-standard clinical research.”
Company Roadmap
- Personalized Solutions: Developing myopia management approaches tailored to individual patient characteristics and progression patterns
- Expanded Age Range: Extending effective interventions to younger children for earlier intervention
- Comprehensive Platform: Building a full product matrix covering lenses, glasses, and smart devices for all scenarios
- Continued Research: Ongoing clinical studies to further refine and validate technologies
The evidence presented at Vision China 2026 marks a turning point in pediatric myopia management. With 7-year efficacy data, confirmed safety for astigmatism, and real-world validation, clinicians now have the evidence base needed to confidently recommend these interventions to the millions of Chinese children at risk for progressive myopia.
As myopia rates continue to rise globally, the lessons from China’s experience with evidence-based myopia management will likely inform approaches worldwide, contributing to the global effort to protect children’s vision health.