Are Myopia Control Lenses Worth It?

Is your child’s nearsightedness (myopia) getting worse every year? You’re not alone. Myopia in children is on the rise globally. While regular glasses correct blurry vision, a new category of myopia management offers a way to actually slow down the progression of myopia itself.

Enter: myopia control eyeglass lenses.

Let's answer the top three questions parents have about this revolutionary technology.

1) What is the difference between myopia control lenses and regular eyeglass lenses?

This is the core of the issue. Think of it as the difference between managing a symptom and addressing the cause.

• Regular Single-Vision Lenses: These standard lenses correct central vision, making distant objects clear for your child. However, they can create a subtle effect where peripheral light focuses behind the retina, which research suggests can signal the eye to grow longer—the main factor behind worsening myopia.

• Myopia Control Lenses (e.g., MiSight®, Stellest®, MiYoSmart): These are specialized optical lenses designed with innovative technology, often using hundreds of tiny lenslets. These lenslets create a "myopia defocus" by focusing peripheral light in front of the retina. This signal tells the eye to slow its excessive growth, effectively slowing myopia progression in children.

In short: Regular lenses help your child see clearly today. Myopia control lenses help them see clearly today and protect their eye health for tomorrow.

2) Are myopia control eyeglass lenses worth it?

Absolutely, and here’s why. Investing in myopia control for children is an investment in their long-term eye health.

Slowing down myopia isn't just about a weaker prescription; it's about reducing the risk of serious eye health risks later in life. High myopia is associated with a significantly greater chance of developing conditions like:

• Retinal detachment

• Myopic maculopathy

• Glaucoma

• Early-onset cataracts

By slowing myopia progression, you are directly lowering your child's future risk for these sight-threatening conditions. For most families, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial cost, making myopia control glasses a profoundly worthwhile investment.

3) Why can't we order myopia control eyeglass lenses online?

This is one of the most important points. You cannot and should not order these lenses online. Myopia control lenses are not a one-size-fits-all product. They require a high level of professional expertise for two critical reasons:

1. A Comprehensive Eye Exam is Crucial: Effective myopia management starts with a thorough examination by an optometrist specializing in myopia control. They need to measure the exact progression of your child’s myopia, assess the health of their eyes, and determine if they are a good candidate.

2. Precise Measurements are Everything: For the defocus technology to work correctly, the lenses must be positioned perfectly in front of your child’s pupils. This requires precise measurements like pupil distance and segment height, which are taken in-person by a trained optician. An incorrect fit will render the lenses ineffective.

In short, the success of myopia control eyeglass lenses depends entirely on the professional care and precision fitting that only a qualified eye care practice can provide.

Ready to learn more? Schedule an appointment at our clinic in Kitsilano, Vancouver

to discuss if myopia control is the right choice for your child.