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Follow-Up Study Confirms Lasting Benefits of Bifocal Contact Lenses for Myopia in Kids

Follow-Up Study Confirms Lasting Benefits of Bifocal Contact Lenses for Myopia in Kids

January 22, 2025

New research reveals that young nearsighted children who use bifocal contact lenses to slow abnormal eye growth retain the treatment’s benefits even after discontinuing the lenses. The findings offer reassurance to both doctors and parents that the positive effects are not reversed over time.

The study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, was conducted by researchers from Ohio State University and University of Houston, with contributions from Anita Tićak, Amber Gaume Giannoni, Danielle Orr, Loraine Sinnott, Donald Mutti, and Lisa Jones-Jordan.

Original Clinical Trial: Slowing Myopia Progression

The follow-up study builds on the 2020 BLINK Study (Bifocal Lenses in Nearsighted Kids), which demonstrated that soft multifocal contact lenses with a high "add power" significantly slowed myopia progression in children aged 7 to 11. Researchers previously wondered if discontinuing the treatment might lead to a rebound effect, causing rapid eye growth that negates the benefits.

Key Findings from BLINK2

The follow-up trial, BLINK2, tracked 248 participants (ages 11–17) who wore high-add bifocal lenses for two years, followed by single-vision lenses in the third year. Results showed:

       • No Rebound Effect: Eye growth returned to normal, age-expected rates after stopping bifocal lenses.

       • Lasting Impact: Children who started with high-add lenses had shorter eyes and less myopia compared to those who began treatment later.

       • Consistency Across Ages: Myopia progression resumed at normal rates regardless of the age at which children stopped using bifocal lenses.

Why This Matters

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing public health concern, linked to modern lifestyles with less time spent outdoors. It affects one-third of U.S. adults and increases risks for vision-threatening conditions such as:

       • Cataracts

       • Retinal Detachment

       • Glaucoma

       • Myopic Macular Degeneration

By slowing abnormal eye growth, bifocal contact lenses reduce the severity of these risks in adulthood.

Insights from Researchers

Jeffrey Walline, Ph.D., Professor of Optometry at The Ohio State University and lead researcher for BLINK, emphasized the importance of these findings:

“We want doctors to understand that you don’t lose the benefits you gain with this treatment. But more importantly, what we want to do with this research is give patients healthier eyes at a lower cost with more options. And then in adulthood, we want them to be able to function fully and with clear vision.”

Advancing Myopia Treatment

The success of multifocal contact lenses has inspired other treatment innovations for myopic children, including:

       • Orthokeratology: Contact lenses worn during sleep to reshape the cornea.

       • Atropine Eye Drops: Medications to slow eye growth.

Researchers are now investigating whether atropine drops can delay the onset of myopia in children, potentially reducing its severity later in life.

Conclusion

The BLINK2 study reinforces the lasting benefits of bifocal contact lenses in slowing myopia progression in children. With new advancements in treatments like orthokeratology and atropine, the future of myopia management looks promising, offering hope for healthier eyes and better vision for young patients worldwide.

Reference:

David A. Berntsen et al. Axial Growth and Myopia Progression After Discontinuing Soft Multifocal Contact Lens Wear, JAMA Ophthalmology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.5885jamanetwork.com/journals/jamao … cle-abstract/2828877