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Recent research reveals that the benefits of bifocal contact lenses in slowing myopia progression in children persist even after discontinuation, marking a breakthrough in pediatric eye care management.
Understanding the prolonged benefits of these lenses is significant for eye care professionals to make informed decisions in managing pediatric myopia effectively.
The study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, demonstrates that children who wore high-add bifocal contact lenses and then switched to single-vision lenses do not experience a rebound in myopia progression after stopping bifocal treatment. This indicates the treatment's lasting effectiveness even post-discontinuation, providing important insights for myopia management in pediatric populations.
The study’s design highlights the effectiveness of high-add bifocal lenses in children aged 7-17 years.
The BLINK2 study showed that children using high-add bifocal contact lenses maintained benefits even after discontinuation, which is essential for long-term myopia management.
The sustained benefits help prevent progression to severe myopia in adulthood, which is linked to eye disease.
If bifocal lenses consistently slow myopia progression, then discontinuing them should not erase benefits if the treatment is effective.
The BLINK2 study followed a cohort of children between the ages of 11 and 17 who had participated in the initial BLINK trial. These participants were initially fitted with high-add bifocal contact lenses to examine the impact on myopia progression.
"We want doctors to understand that you don't lose the benefits that you gain with this treatment," stated Jeffrey Walline, senior author and Ohio State University professor.
Walline emphasizes that understanding the lack of a rebound effect is crucial for clinicians considering bifocal lenses for treating pediatric myopia. This knowledge empowers healthcare providers to make informed decisions about long-term myopia management strategies.
Bifocal lenses adjust axial elongation without causing adverse eye growth after cessation. The data suggests that bifocal lenses modify eye growth sustainably, reducing the risk of eye disease associated with severe myopia.
Preventing abnormal growth reduces future complications such as cataracts or retinal detachment. By slowing eye growth, the lenses causally reduce the risk of associated ocular diseases.
The lenses exert their effects by altering the focal dynamics of the eye, correcting distance vision while supporting near tasks. As a result, eye elongation slows, which can lower the risk of developing complications tied to severe myopia later in life.
Following the use of high-add lenses for two years, these children experienced typical growth rates after transitioning to single-vision lenses. The findings underscore that bifocal lenses do not just temporarily halt progression; they impart lasting structural changes.
"After the children discontinue using the contact lenses, their myopia progression increases, but just to normal standards you would expect if you hadn't treated them," explained Walline.
Early bifocal lens intervention stands as an opportunity to reduce severe myopia later in life, with enduring effects even after discontinuation. Intervening early may lower myopia-related disease burden, providing longer-term health benefits. If early intervention slows progression significantly, then later complications will likely be minimized.
Given that myopia typically starts around ages 8 to 10, early intervention using the studied lenses has shown promise in not only reducing progression rates but maintaining slower growth trends. This suggests a strong potential to lower the prevalence of future myopic complications.
As children mature, maintaining a lower degree of myopia could translate into fewer issues such as cataracts or retinal detachment, conditions known to be exacerbated by higher myopic levels. Thus, this study could redefine the standard of care, focusing on preventive strategies for pediatric myopia.
"This is a burgeoning area," Walline noted, highlighting ongoing efforts to explore additional treatment options like atropine drops.
Berntsen, D. A., et al. (2025). Axial Growth and Myopia Progression After Discontinuing Soft Multifocal Contact Lens Wear. JAMA Ophthalmology.
doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.5885
The Ohio State University. (2025). Staying Power of Bifocal Contact Lens Benefits in Young Kids. Medical Xpress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-staying-power-bifocal-contact-lens.html