Abstract
Background: This study aimed to analyze the research progress on the use of a multifocal lens for myopic control throughout the 21st century, utilizing bibliometric analysis. Methods: Publications related to multifocal lenses from 2001 to 2024 were searched on the Web of Science core collection (WoSCC) database. VOSviewer (Version 1.6.19) and Bibliometrix package (Version 4.3.0) were used to perform the bibliometric analysis. Primary information including the publication number per year, country or region, journal, keyword, and title of the literature was extracted and analyzed. Results: A total of 234 articles from 31 countries were retrieved. The number of publications related to multifocal lenses had a rapid growth phase from 2016 to 2024. The United States, Australia, China, and Spain emerged as leading contributors to the research landscape. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics was the most popular journal in this field, and the most frequently cited article was published in Optometry and Vision Science. Myopic progression was the main topic in this research field as well as the principal keywords of emerging research hotspots. Conclusions: Our bibliometric study provides a pioneering overview of the research trends and evolution in the application of a multifocal lens for myopic control. These findings provide a deep insight into current research frontiers and hot directions, offering a valuable reference for further research.