Navigating the world of children’s eye care can feel like a big responsibility. As a parent, you want to provide your child with every tool they need to see the world clearly and comfortably, whether they’re reading a book, playing outside, or learning in the classroom. While something like myopia can affect their ability to see the board at school or enjoy their favourite activities, you have options for supporting their visual health.
Myopia eyeglasses are specially designed lenses that not only correct blurry distance vision, but can also help slow down the progression of nearsightedness in children. These lenses go beyond traditional glasses, offering a proactive approach to managing your child’s eyesight over time.
Myopia in Children
Myopia is known for causing blurry distance vision, but the reason for this comes down to the eye’s shape. Simply put, myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back. This causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, making distant objects appear fuzzy. For a child, this might mean difficulty seeing the front of the classroom, recognizing friends from afar, or participating fully in sports.
While traditional single-vision glasses correct this blurriness, they don’t address the underlying issue of eye elongation. This means that a wearer’s myopia continues to progress unabated.
Unfortunately, higher levels of myopia lead to higher prescriptions over time and are associated with a greater risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life, including:
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Retinal detachment
- Macular degeneration
Myopia control can help address this issue. The goal is to actively manage how your child’s eyes are changing to support their long-term health.
How Do Myopia Control Glasses Work?
Myopia control eyeglasses are a remarkable development in children’s eye care. These glasses are engineered with a dual-focus design that corrects vision while simultaneously helping to slow down eye growth.
Think of it this way: the central part of the lens provides the clear distance vision your child needs, just like a standard pair of glasses. However, the outer or peripheral part of the lens uses “peripheral defocus” technology to change how light focuses on the outer edges of the retina. This defocus pattern sends a signal to the eye to slow its growth, which in turn can help reduce the rate of myopia progression.
Your child simply wears these glasses throughout the day, just as they would any other pair. It’s a non-invasive and effective way to manage their vision.
Types of Myopia Eyeglasses
Some of the most popular types of myopia eyeglasses are MyoCare and Essilor Stellest lenses.
Zeiss MyoCare lenses use a series of concentric rings in the lens to offer clear central vision while creating defocusing areas specifically selected to suit your child. MyoCare is recommended for children 10 and younger.
Essilor Stellest lenses work in much the same way, only their lenses use over a thousand tiny dots, called “lenslets”, to create the defocusing areas your child needs.
The correct option depends on your child’s age, needs, and activities.
What Are Other Myopia Control Options?
We’re passionate about providing the latest and most effective solutions for managing childhood myopia. We understand that every child is unique, so we offer a range of options tailored to their specific needs and lifestyle. Our team will work closely with you to determine the best path forward.
Here are some of the myopia control treatments we provide:
- MiSight 1-day Contact Lenses: For children who are ready for contact lenses, MiSight 1-day offers a convenient and effective solution. These are soft, daily disposable lenses designed with special zones to correct vision and manage myopia progression. They provide clear vision without the need for glasses, which is great for active kids who play sports or prefer a glasses-free look.
- Atropine Eye Drops: Low-dose atropine drops are another well-regarded method for myopia control. One drop is typically administered to each eye at bedtime. These drops work by relaxing the eye’s focusing mechanism, which helps to slow down eye growth. They are often used in combination with glasses or contact lenses that correct the existing blurry vision.
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Ortho-K involves wearing custom-designed rigid contact lenses overnight. While your child sleeps, these lenses gently and safely reshape the cornea (the front surface of the eye). The lenses are removed in the morning, and your child can enjoy clear vision throughout the day without needing glasses or contacts. This reshaping also creates peripheral defocus to help slow myopia progression.
Taking the Next Step for Your Child’s Vision
Learning that your child has myopia is an opportunity to be proactive about their long-term eye health. With today’s treatments, you have more tools than ever to support their sight. Myopia control is about looking beyond a simple prescription and focusing on a healthier visual future.
Visionary Eye Centre is dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive, and family-focused eye care. We take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and create a personalized treatment plan that fits your child’s needs and your family’s lifestyle. When you visit us, you’ll find a team that is genuinely excited to help your child see the world with clarity and confidence. Book an appointment with us today, and let’s work together to give your child the gift of a lifetime of healthy, happy sight.
