Purpose.: To determine whether a novel optical treatment using contact lenses to reduce relative peripheral hyperopia can slow the rate of progress of myopia.

Methods.: Chinese children, aged 7 to 14 years, with baseline myopia from sphere− 0.75 to− 3.50 D and cylinder≤ 1.00 D, were fitted with novel contact lenses (n= 45) and followed up for 12 months, and their progress was compared with that of a group (n= 40) matched for age, sex, refractive error, axial length, and parental myopia wearing normal, single-vision, spherocylindrical spectacles.

Results.: On adjusting for parental myopia, sex, age, baseline spherical equivalent (SphE) values, and compliance, the estimated progression in SphE at 12 months was 34% less, at− 0.57 D, with the novel contact lenses (95% confidence interval [CI],− 0.45− 0.69 D) than at− 0.86 D, with spectacle lenses (95% CI,− 0.74 to− 0.99 D). For an average baseline age of 11.2 years, baseline SphE of− 2.10 D, a baseline axial length of 24.6 mm, and 320 days of compliant lens wear, the estimated increase in axial length (AL) was 33% less at 0.27 mm (95% CI, 0.22–0.32 mm) than at 0.40 mm (95% CI, 0.35–0.45 mm) for the contact lens and spectacle lens groups, respectively.

Conclusions.: The 12-month data support the hypothesis that reducing peripheral hyperopia can alter central refractive development and reduce the rate of progress of myopia.(chictr. org number, chiCTR-TRC-00000029 or chiCTR-TRC-00000032.)