Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy
Abstract Key messages What is known Occlusion with Bangerter filters designed with different translucent microscopic diffusers is an effective treatment for anisometropic amblyopia. What is new Bangerter filters were found to show an effect on slowing down ocular axial length (AL) growth. When rapid...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02901-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849237664901890048 |
|---|---|
| author | Jingjing Jiang Tong Zhao Yue Yin Mengyu Han Xi Wu Yi Chen |
| author_facet | Jingjing Jiang Tong Zhao Yue Yin Mengyu Han Xi Wu Yi Chen |
| author_sort | Jingjing Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Key messages What is known Occlusion with Bangerter filters designed with different translucent microscopic diffusers is an effective treatment for anisometropic amblyopia. What is new Bangerter filters were found to show an effect on slowing down ocular axial length (AL) growth. When rapid hyperopic reduction occurs in the non-amblyopic eye combined with persistently widening interocular AL differences, Bangerter filter application represents a more preferable alternative to patching for managing anisometropic amblyopia. Purpose Bangerter filter occlusion is an effective clinical method for amblyopia treatment. This study aimed to compare the nonamblyopic eyes elongation and refraction change of patching and Bangerter filter occlusion in treating patients with anisometropic amblyopia and to further investigate the effect of Bangerter filter on axial length growth. Methods This retrospective study included 54 patients with anisometropic amblyopia categorized by initial treatment: patching group (n = 24) and Bangerter filter group (n = 30). Consecutive records of both the amblyopia and nonamblyopia eyes were reviewed from baseline before treatment onset to follow-up visits during or post-treatment, including best corrected visual acuity, pneumatic intraocular pressure, spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL), corneal curvature, binocular visual function, and accommodative function. In addition, macrostructures of three different densities of Bangerter filters and diffusion optics technology lenses were observed and compared. Results The nonamblyopic eyes in the Bangerter filter group had significantly lower AL increases from baseline (− 0.15 and − 0.20, respectively, P < 0.05) and significantly fewer SER reductions from baseline (0.45 and 0.57, respectively, P < 0.05) compared with the patching group at both two follow-up visits. The interocular AL difference between nonamblyopic and amblyopic eyes increased by 0.15 ± 0.27 mm in the occlusion group at the second follow-up (from baseline 0.23 ± 0.61 mm to second follow-up 0.38 ± 0.69 mm, P = 0.004), while it decreased by 0.18 ± 0.20 mm in the Bangerter filter group at the second follow-up (from baseline 0.72 ± 0.68 mm to second follow-up 0.54 ± 0.69 mm, P < 0.001). Conclusions Bangerter filter, as a traditional occlusion therapy, have been shown to effectively slow ocular AL growth thereby reducing interocular axial length disparity when compared to patching therapy in anisometropic amblyopia treatment. Rapid reduction of hyperopic refraction in non-amblyopic eyes combined with persistent increases in interocular AL difference may constitute a novel indication for Bangerter filter application. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1239faefbe4b4b03ab9e5fb2361b6480 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-1239faefbe4b4b03ab9e5fb2361b64802025-08-20T04:01:53ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-07-0130111010.1186/s40001-025-02901-zBangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapyJingjing Jiang0Tong Zhao1Yue Yin2Mengyu Han3Xi Wu4Yi Chen5Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship HospitalDepartment of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Friendship HospitalAbstract Key messages What is known Occlusion with Bangerter filters designed with different translucent microscopic diffusers is an effective treatment for anisometropic amblyopia. What is new Bangerter filters were found to show an effect on slowing down ocular axial length (AL) growth. When rapid hyperopic reduction occurs in the non-amblyopic eye combined with persistently widening interocular AL differences, Bangerter filter application represents a more preferable alternative to patching for managing anisometropic amblyopia. Purpose Bangerter filter occlusion is an effective clinical method for amblyopia treatment. This study aimed to compare the nonamblyopic eyes elongation and refraction change of patching and Bangerter filter occlusion in treating patients with anisometropic amblyopia and to further investigate the effect of Bangerter filter on axial length growth. Methods This retrospective study included 54 patients with anisometropic amblyopia categorized by initial treatment: patching group (n = 24) and Bangerter filter group (n = 30). Consecutive records of both the amblyopia and nonamblyopia eyes were reviewed from baseline before treatment onset to follow-up visits during or post-treatment, including best corrected visual acuity, pneumatic intraocular pressure, spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL), corneal curvature, binocular visual function, and accommodative function. In addition, macrostructures of three different densities of Bangerter filters and diffusion optics technology lenses were observed and compared. Results The nonamblyopic eyes in the Bangerter filter group had significantly lower AL increases from baseline (− 0.15 and − 0.20, respectively, P < 0.05) and significantly fewer SER reductions from baseline (0.45 and 0.57, respectively, P < 0.05) compared with the patching group at both two follow-up visits. The interocular AL difference between nonamblyopic and amblyopic eyes increased by 0.15 ± 0.27 mm in the occlusion group at the second follow-up (from baseline 0.23 ± 0.61 mm to second follow-up 0.38 ± 0.69 mm, P = 0.004), while it decreased by 0.18 ± 0.20 mm in the Bangerter filter group at the second follow-up (from baseline 0.72 ± 0.68 mm to second follow-up 0.54 ± 0.69 mm, P < 0.001). Conclusions Bangerter filter, as a traditional occlusion therapy, have been shown to effectively slow ocular AL growth thereby reducing interocular axial length disparity when compared to patching therapy in anisometropic amblyopia treatment. Rapid reduction of hyperopic refraction in non-amblyopic eyes combined with persistent increases in interocular AL difference may constitute a novel indication for Bangerter filter application.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02901-zBangerter filterAxial lengthMyopic shiftAmblyopiaDiffusion optics |
| spellingShingle | Jingjing Jiang Tong Zhao Yue Yin Mengyu Han Xi Wu Yi Chen Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy European Journal of Medical Research Bangerter filter Axial length Myopic shift Amblyopia Diffusion optics |
| title | Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy |
| title_full | Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy |
| title_fullStr | Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy |
| title_short | Bangerter filter’s role in regulating ocular axial length: a novel application of an established therapy |
| title_sort | bangerter filter s role in regulating ocular axial length a novel application of an established therapy |
| topic | Bangerter filter Axial length Myopic shift Amblyopia Diffusion optics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02901-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jingjingjiang bangerterfiltersroleinregulatingocularaxiallengthanovelapplicationofanestablishedtherapy AT tongzhao bangerterfiltersroleinregulatingocularaxiallengthanovelapplicationofanestablishedtherapy AT yueyin bangerterfiltersroleinregulatingocularaxiallengthanovelapplicationofanestablishedtherapy AT mengyuhan bangerterfiltersroleinregulatingocularaxiallengthanovelapplicationofanestablishedtherapy AT xiwu bangerterfiltersroleinregulatingocularaxiallengthanovelapplicationofanestablishedtherapy AT yichen bangerterfiltersroleinregulatingocularaxiallengthanovelapplicationofanestablishedtherapy |