Effect of bilberry extract on slowing high-myopia progression in children: 2-year follow-up study

Abstract

Aim

To evaluate the effect of oral Difrarel on progression of high myopia in children and to study myopia course after its discontinuation.

Methods

A total of 64 highly myopic children were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two equal groups: group 1 was administered Difrarel for 1 year and stopped its intake for another year, and group 2 (control) did not take Difrarel. Refraction and axial length of the right eye of every subject were measured every 6 months in both groups.

Results

Each group had 32 eyes of 32 patients. The mean age was 9.34±2.27 years in group 1 and 9.33±2.2 years in group 2. Mean refraction and axial length at the start of the study were −10.78±2.6 D and 23.7±1.2 mm, respectively, in group 1, and −10.5±2.55 D and 23.9±1.4 mm in group 2. Refraction and axial length measurements every 6 months revealed statistically significant lower numbers in group 1 than group 2 after 1 year. After discontinuation of the drug, the difference between both groups remained significant.

Conclusion

Oral Difrarel slowed axial elongation and stopped myopia progression in children with high myopia. The drug effect was consistent after its discontinuation for 1 year.

Keywords:

• high myopia in children
• Difrarel
• axial myopia
• progressive myopia

Acknowledgments

The author did not receive any external funding.

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.