Regression of mild myopia using extended blinking therapy

Objective of this study was to assess whether extended blinking exercises have any role in the improvement of vision and halt the progression of myopia. This is a prospective comparative study, done over a period of 1 year. Mild myopic patients, with spherical equivalent upto – 3 D myopia, aged 11-40 years were included. 80 myopic patients (160 eyes) were divided into 2 groups (cases and controls) with 40 patients in each. Cases were subjected to extended blinking exercises, while the control group were given glasses. After 6 weeks - visual acuity, cycloplegic and subjective refraction and biometry was observed in both groups. : 80 myopic eyes (cases) had improvement of visual acuity in right eye from 0.28(logmar) to 0.07(logmar) which is of high statistical significance. The spherical equivalent decreased from -0.70 ±0.45 D to -0.22 ±0.34D. The left eye visual acuity improving from 0.29 (log Mar) to 0.06 (logmar) which is also of high statistical significance. The spherical equivalent decreased in the left eye from -0.7 ±0.45D to -0.2± 0.32 D. Out of 80 eyes (cases) 50 eyes became emmetropic whereas there was significant improvement of increased visual acuity in the rest. Controls had no significant change in any of the parameter. : This study concludes that simple diurnal extended blinking exercises is quite an effective strategy in regressing, thus halting the progression of myopia at an early stage.