Hao Chen

Purpose: To investigate the short-term effect of a longpass filter on myopic defocus-induced changes in axial length (AL) and choroidal thickness (ChT). Methods: This study included 23 young myopic adults. AL and ChT were measured in both eyes before and after 60 min of +5 D myopic defocus induced in the right eye with either a longpass filter (>495 nm) or a neutral density (ND) filter of equal transmittance. The same ND filter was used for both the left eye and the control eye. The pupil diameter of the left eye was measured before and 10 min after each test session. Illumination was maintained at 100 lux. Results: After 60 min of monocular defocusing with the ND filter, a significant reduction in AL (mean±SE) was observed in the right eye (−8.20 ± 3.01 μm; t = −2.72; p = 0.01). However, no significant change was noted in ChT (−0.73 ± 1.78 μm; t = −0.41; p = 0.69). With the longpass filter, no significant change in AL was observed (−1.11 ± 4.27 μm, t = −0.26, p = 0.80), but a significant reduction in ChT was observed (−4.56 ± 1.73 μm, t = −2.63, p = 0.02). Pupil size did not significantly differ between the two filters ( F = 0.004, p = 0.95). Conclusion: Blocking short wavelengths inhibited the acute axial shortening response to myopic defocus, suggesting a modulatory role of short wavelengths in refractive development under the present experimental conditions.

Background/Objectives: Estimate the prevalence of myopia among children aged 6–17 years in county and rural areas across seven geographically diverse provinces of China, and identify demographic, behavioral, and geographic factors associated with myopia, with particular focus on urban–rural and ethnic differences. Methods: A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design was employed. Seven provinces were randomly selected, one from each of seven geographical regions of China (Southeast, North, Central, South, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast). In each province, one rural county was randomly chosen. Within each county, one urban survey site (county town) and one rural survey site (village) were selected. From each site, one primary school and one junior high school were included. In each school, approximately 20 ± 2 students per grade (grades 1–9) were recruited. Uncorrected visual acuity and non-cycloplegic autorefraction were measured. Multivariable generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) with random intercepts at the class level were used to identify factors associated with myopia, accounting for the cluster sampling design. Results: The overall myopia prevalence was 42.9% (urban 49.6%, rural 36.0%). In the multivariable GLMM, educational stage was the strongest risk factor (grades 7–9 vs. 1–3: OR = 5.54). A significant district × ethnicity interaction was found only for Mongolian children: rural residence was strongly protective (OR = 0.19) compared to Han (OR = 0.65), and the ethnic advantage disappeared in county towns. Only 14.2% of myopic students had adequate correction. Conclusions: In conclusion, myopia is highly prevalent and severely under-corrected in rural China. Educational pressure is the main risk factor, and the rural protective effect is strongest in Mongolians but erodes with urbanization. Urgent public health actions, including vision screening, affordable spectacles, and lifestyle preservation, are needed to address this growing burden.

In the treatment of infectious keratitis, therapeutic strategies often prioritize enhancing bactericidal efficacy. However, endotoxins released from Gram‐negative bacteria cause inflammatory reaction, leading to corneal structural damage and scar formation. Given that polymyxin B (PMB) can bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharide (LPS), this study employs large‐pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles (lMSNs) grafted with PMB as carriers for cationic antibacterial carbon quantum dots (CQDs) to prepare CQD@lMSN‐PMB, which enables synchronous sterilization and endotoxin neutralization. In the acidic infectious microenvironment, the accelerated release of CQDs eliminates 99.88% bacteria within 2 h, effectively substituting immune mediated sterilization. Notably, CQD@lMSN‐PMB exhibits exceptional LPS neutralization performance (2.22 µg LPS/mg CQD@lMSN‐PMB) due to its high specific surface area. In an infectious keratitis model, inflammation subsides significantly within the first day of CQD@lMSN‐PMB intervention and is completely resolved by day 3. By day 2, interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α in CQD@lMSN‐PMB group decrease by 86.99%, 91.15%, and 77.56%, respectively, compared to the CQDs‐only sterilization group. Ultimately, corneal integrity and transparency are preserved, with suppressed expressions of fibrosis‐related factors including matrix metalloproteinase 9, transforming growth factor‐β and α‐smooth muscle actin. Therefore, this synchronous sterilization and endotoxin neutralization strategy outperforms monotherapy strategies focused solely on sterilization or endotoxin neutralization.

Purpose: To evaluate myopia control efficacy in myopic children wearing spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) for 5 years. Methods: This is a randomized, double-masked extended trial. Myopic children aged 8 to 13 years who were originally allocated to the HAL group in the 2-year clinical trial. The HAL group underwent a 5-year assessment for myopia progression using cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL). An extrapolated single-vision spectacle lenses (ESVL) group was used as a control group. The 5-year myopia progression and axial elongation of the ESVL group was calculated based on the 2-year data from the single-vision spectacle lenses group in the same clinical trial, and the data for the following 3 years was estimated by assuming an annual reduction in SER by 9.7% and in AL by 15%. A generalized linear model approach was used to evaluate the treatment efficacy. The validity of the ESVL group was evaluated by comparing myopia progression in the first year of the 3-year estimates with a single-vision spectacle lenses (SVL2) group from a 1-year extended study of the same clinical trial. Results: Forty-three participants from the original HAL group completed the 5-year visit (74%). Five-year myopia progression [mean ± standard error (SE)] in the HAL group was − 1.27 ± 0.14 D. Compared with the ESVL (− 3.03 ± 0.18 D), myopia progression was − 1.75 ± 0.24 D less for the HAL group (P < 0.001). The mean AL elongation over 5 years was 0.67 ± 0.06 mm for the HAL group compared with 1.40 mm in the ESVL group (P < 0.001), AL elongation was slower by 0.72 ± 0.10 mm for the HAL group (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found for myopia (− 0.58 ± 0.04 D vs. − 0.56 ± 0.05 D) or AL elongation (0.28 ± 0.02 mm vs. 0.28 ± 0.02 mm) between the ESVL group and SVL2 group (P _SER = 0.83; P _AL = 0.93) in year 3. Conclusions: In this 5-year study, HAL spectacles reduced the rate of myopia progression and axial elongation, preventing the equivalent of 3 years of myopia progression and axial elongation. Long-term use of HAL spectacles also decreased the incidence of high myopia. Extrapolated control groups are valid for evaluating myopia progression in long-term studies. Trial registration The study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100047262), https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=127182.

Background: To investigate the impact of wearing spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) for 3 years and the impact of switching from single-vision lenses (SVL) to HAL on choroidal thickness (ChT). Methods: Fifty-one participants who had already worn HAL for 2 years continued wearing them for an additional year (HAL group). Further, 50 and 41 participants who had worn spectacle lenses with slightly aspherical lenslets (SAL) and SVL for 2 years, respectively, switched to wearing HAL for another year (SAL-HAL and SVL-HAL groups). Additionally, 48 new participants aged 10–15 years were enrolled to wear SVL at the third year (new-SVL group). ChT was measured every 6 months throughout the study. Results: Significant differences were observed in the changes in ChT among the four groups at the third year (all P < 0.05 except for the outer nasal region: P = 0.09), with the new-SVL group showing larger reductions compared with the other three groups. However, none of the three HAL-wearing groups showed significant changes in ChT at the third year (all P > 0.05). When comparing the changes in ChT for 3 years among the HAL, SAL-HAL, and SVL-HAL groups, significant differences were found before switching to HAL, but these differences were abolished after all participants switched to HAL. Conclusions: Compared to those in the SVL group, choroid thinning was significantly inhibited in all the HAL groups. Wearing HAL for 3 years no longer had a choroidal thickening effect but could still inhibit choroidal thinning compared to wearing SVL. Trial registration: The study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800017683), http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=29789.