Slowing or preventing myopia progression in children is vital to reduce future eye complications as they grow into adults. Progression of myopia in children can be reduced by various treatments including wearing specialised myopia control glasses, Ortho-k lenses, and atropine eye drops, and myopia control soft contact lenses. Myopia progression in children can be significantly reduced by using specific soft multifocal contact lenses designed specifically for myopia control. These contact lenses can reduce the rate of progression of myopia by up to 59%. These lenses work by maintaining a clear image on the central retina, whilst moving the peripheral retinal image forwards in front of the retinal surface. With the peripheral retinal image in front of the retina, a signal is sent to the eye to reduce the elongation (growth) of the eye and therefore reducing the rate of myopic progression. Another contact lens option, OrthoK, reduces myopia progression as effectively as soft lens options, with the advantage of only wearing the lenses overnight, and no lenses or glasses during the day.
MiSight contact lenses
MiSight® 1 day contact lenses with ActiveControl® Technology not only correct short-sightedness – they’re also the first soft contact lenses proven to significantly reduce the progression of myopia in children. When wearing MiSight® 1 day contact lenses, your child can experience clear vision, freedom from glasses and continue to enjoy the activities they love.
The MiSight 1 day lens is clinically proven to slow the progression of myopia when initialled prescribed or children 8-12 years old. Over three years, MiSight reduced myopia progression by 59%, compared to single vision 1 day lens. The MiSight lens also saw a 52% reduction in average axial lengthening of the eye.
NaturalVue contact lenses
The NaturalVue multifocal contact lens is a daily disposable contact lens that has an extended depth of focus design. The optics within the NaturalVue lenses focus peripheral light rays in front of the retina removing the growth signal for the continuing lengthening of the eye, therefore slowing myopia progression.
Retrospective studies over a six year period show the NaturalVue lens has the potential to significantly slow myopia progression by over 50% however the studies are ongoing.
MYLO contact lenses
MYLO lenses are custom made monthly lenses that not only correct myopia, but also significantly reduce the progression of myopia in children. The slowing of myopic progression occurs as a result of the Extended Depth of Focus design. This lens design provides a signal to slow eye growth by degrading the quality of the image behind the eye and therefore reducing the risk of the eye growing larger in length.
A randomised clinical trial involving Chinese children over a two year period showed the MYLO lens reduced the axial lengthening of the eye and myopia progression by 30%, compared to a regular distance contact lens.
