January 9, 2026
Photo Credit: Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — Visioneering Technologies, Inc. (VTI) shared the latest findings and clinical insights from its ongoing PROTECT (PROgressive Myopia Treatment Evaluation for NaturalVue Multifocal Contact Lens Trial) study. The findings emphasize that NaturalVue Multifocals are designed to support myopia management in real-world pediatric populations.
New Scientific Findings: PROTECT Two-Year Data and Risk Factor Analysis
Ashley Tuan, OD, PhD, FAAO, VTI’s Chief Medical Editor, presented the latest findings in both a poster and podium presentation at the Global Specialty Lens Symposium (GSLS). The research evaluated how clinical, familial and social risk factors influence myopia progression—and how treatment modifies their impact.¹
Key findings included:
- Over two years, children aged 8–12 treated with NaturalVue Multifocal showed significantly lower myopia progression versus single-vision contact lenses:
- 0.59D less refractive progression
- 0.22 mm less axial elongation
- Machine-learning analyses identified age as the strongest driver of progression under natural history, while treatment with NaturalVue Multifocal reduced the overall impact of known risk factors by approximately 45–58%.
- Treatment effects were consistent across age, sex, pupil size, familial and lifestyle variables, indicating age of initiation did not meaningfully alter efficacy.
- Under natural progression, females demonstrated faster progression than males; this sex-based risk factor was minimized in children wearing NaturalVue Multifocal.
“These results reinforce what we see clinically—that myopia progression is influenced by many factors outside a clinician’s control,” said Dr. Tuan, “The PROTECT data show that NaturalVue Multifocal helps reduce the impact of that variability, allowing practitioners to focus on what they can control: early intervention, consistent wear and predictable outcomes—while still letting kids be kids in today’s real-world environments.”
Putting the Data to Work: Built for Real Life in Clinical Practice
Additionally, in a separate presentation, Brett O’Connor, OD, FAAO, shared how these data translate into day-to-day patient care.
Practice-focused takeaways included:
- One lens, more applications: A single catenary optical design supports myopia management, presbyopia and many astigmatic patients—simplifying fitting decisions in busy practices.
- Visual performance aligned with real life: By extending depth of focus rather than relying on discrete focal zones, the Neurofocus Optics design supports functional distance, intermediate and near vision across life stages.
- Astigmatism performance that matters: Clinical data demonstrate strong visual acuity outcomes in patients with up to 3.00D of astigmatism, without requiring a toric lens.²
- Designed for real practices: Straightforward fitting and intuitive on-eye adjustments reduce chair time and troubleshooting, making the lens practical for routine use across a broad range of patients.
“In my practice, these features translate into easier adaptation and consistent vision quality for patients,” said Dr. O’Connor. “That helps patients succeed in real-world settings and gives clinicians confidence in predictable outcomes.”
This information may describe uses for this product, including myopia progression control, that have not been approved by the FDA for use in the United States. It is intended for educational purposes only. NaturalVue Multifocal is part of an ongoing randomized clinical trial (PROTECT).
References
- Tuan A, Novak S, Dillehay S, PROTECT Study Group. Clinical, familial, and social risk factors for myopia progression: learnings from the PROTECT 2-year data. Poster presented at Global Specialty Lens Symposia; January 8, 2026; Las Vegas, NV.
- Tuan A. New Evidence Uncovered: 2-Year RCT Findings in Myopia Management, Astigmatism, and Vision Outcomes with NaturalVue. Presented at American Academy of Optometry; October 10, 2025; Boston, MA. Astigmatism study conducted by Carracedo G., Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
