Research Indicates Slowing Down of Myopia Development with Use of Contact Lenses

Research Indicates Slowing Down of Myopia Development with Use of Contact Lenses

In a significant breakthrough for children's eye health, recent research suggests that multifocal contact lenses could offer a safer and more consistent approach to managing myopia, a condition that affects the global population, particularly young people.

The BLINK (Bifocal Lenses in Nearsighted Kids) Study, led by the University of Houston and collaborators, has provided compelling evidence supporting the use of multifocal contact lenses in slowing the progression of childhood myopia. Over a decade of research has shown that these lenses can slow the elongation of the axial length of the eye, a key structural factor contributing to myopia worsening in children.

The study involved nearly 300 children aged 7 to 11 who were randomly assigned to wear either single-vision lenses or multifocal lenses with varying levels of additional focusing power. The results demonstrated that high-add power multifocal contact lenses resulted in slower eye growth in children, reducing myopia severity.

For parents concerned about their child's worsening eyesight, this research offers hope and a practical solution. The benefits of using multifocal contact lenses in children appear to last even after discontinuation, as a follow-up study, BLINK2, found that one year after children stopped wearing multifocal contact lenses, their eye growth returned to a normal rate without reversing the earlier benefits.

Multifocal contact lenses are designed to correct vision while slowing eye growth by having a central zone that sharpens distance vision and outer zones that focus light in a way that may slow eye elongation. Clinically, these lenses induce peripheral myopic defocus, a visual signal that discourages further elongation of the eyeball. This intervention, when initiated early in children's critical growth years (typically ages 6-16), can reduce myopia progression by 30-80%.

By managing myopia during childhood, it's possible to reduce the risks associated with high myopia and preserve better eye health into adulthood. Higher levels of myopia significantly increase the risk of serious eye diseases, including retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. Preventing even one diopter of myopic progression can have a meaningful impact on reducing these risks and preserving healthy vision over the long term.

As more eye care professionals adopt these methods, the long-term outlook for children with myopia could improve significantly. The growing prevalence of myopia is a global concern, with nearly half the world's population expected to be affected by 2050. However, with research like the BLINK studies, there is hope for a future where children can grow up with healthier eyes and improved vision quality.

References: [1] Walline, J. J., Jones, L. A., Sinnott, J. R., et al. (2009). Bifocal contact lenses for myopia control in children. Optometry and Vision Science, 86(10), 1282-1293. [2] Walline, J. J., Jones, L. A., Sinnott, J. R., et al. (2015). Progression of myopia in children randomized to wear single-vision or multifocal soft contact lenses: 3-year results from the BLINK study. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 56(13), 7120-7129. [3] Walline, J. J., Jones, L. A., Sinnott, J. R., et al. (2019). Myopia control with multifocal contact lenses in children and adolescents: a review of the evidence. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 42(3), 186-198.

1. The significance of a breakthrough in eye health lies in the possible use of multifocal contact lenses for managing myopia in children.
2. Over a decade of research through the BLINK Study supports the use of multifocal contact lenses for slowing myopia progression in children.
3. The BLINK Study assigns children aged 7 to 11 to wear either single-vision or multifocal contact lenses with varying levels of additional focusing power.
4. Results reveal high-add power multifocal contact lenses can slow eye growth in children, reducing myopia severity.
5. Multifocal contact lenses are designed to correct vision while slowing eye growth by having a central zone for distance vision and outer zones that focus light.
6. Clinically, these lenses induce peripheral myopic defocus, a visual signal that discourages further eye elongation.
7. Early initiation of these lenses during children's critical growth years can reduce myopia progression by 30-80%.
8. By managing myopia during childhood, the risks associated with high myopia can be reduced, preserving better eye health into adulthood.
9. Higher levels of myopia significantly increase the risk of serious eye diseases including retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.
10. Preventing even one diopter of myopic progression can have a meaningful impact on reducing these risks and preserving healthy vision over the long term.
11. With more eye care professionals adopting these methods, the long-term outlook for children with myopia could significantly improve.
12. The increasing prevalence of myopia is a global concern, with nearly half the world's population expected to be affected by 2050.
13. However, with research like the BLINK studies, there is hope for a future where children can grow up with healthier eyes and improved vision quality.
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