A decade of research culminating in the BLINK and BLINK2 studies, led by Dr. David Berntsen at the University of Houston College of Optometry, has demonstrated the lasting effectiveness of multifocal contact lenses in slowing myopia (nearsightedness) progression in children. These findings, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, offer a promising strategy for mitigating the long-term risks associated with this increasingly prevalent condition. The initial BLINK study involved 294 myopic children aged 7 to 11, who were randomly assigned to wear either single-vision or multifocal contact lenses (with medium or high add power) for three years. The results showed that children wearing high-add power multifocal lenses experienced significantly slower myopia progression and eye growth compared to the other groups. This initial finding was significant, suggesting a potential method for controlling the progression of myopia during childhood.
The subsequent BLINK2 study followed 248 of the original participants. All participants wore high-add power lenses for two years, followed by a third year wearing single-vision lenses. This phase was crucial in determining the long-term effects of the multifocal lens treatment. The results demonstrated that even after discontinuing the multifocal lenses, myopia progression returned to the age-expected rate, with no evidence of accelerated eye growth or a “rebound effect” as seen in some other myopia control methods. This finding suggests a durable benefit from the multifocal lens treatment.
Myopia, a condition where distant objects appear blurry, is a growing global health concern. By 2050, it’s projected that nearly half the world’s population will be myopic. This condition is not merely an inconvenience; higher degrees of myopia are associated with increased risk of serious eye diseases later in life, such as retinal detachment and glaucoma. Therefore, controlling its progression in childhood is crucial for long-term eye health. Traditional single-vision glasses and contact lenses correct blurry vision caused by myopia but do not address the underlying issue: excessive eye growth. Multifocal lenses, however, are designed to both correct vision and influence eye growth. These lenses have a unique “bullseye” design, with a central zone that corrects nearsightedness for clear distance vision and an outer zone that focuses light differently in the periphery of the retina. Animal studies suggest this peripheral focus may be the key to slowing eye growth.
The BLINK and BLINK2 studies provide compelling evidence for the effectiveness and durability of high-add power multifocal lenses in managing childhood myopia. Unlike other treatments that show a rebound effect upon discontinuation, these lenses appear to offer lasting benefits. Dr. Berntsen and his team’s findings suggest a viable strategy for fitting children with these lenses at a younger age and continuing treatment until their late teens, when myopia progression typically slows naturally. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce the long-term risks associated with high myopia.
Sources: JAMA Ophthalmology Publication, University of Houston Press Release