Myopia Control Prescription Lenses
What is Myopia and why is Myopia Control crucial?
Myopia (short-sightedness) is a common vision condition in which individuals struggle to see objects in the distance.
Now categorised as a global epidemic, the WHO projects that by 2050, half the world will become short-sighted. On the outside, being short-sighted doesn’t seem that bad – you just need some glasses or contact lenses to correct it, right?
However, becoming more shortsighted is more than just needing to wear glasses. It is the result of an abnormal growth of the eyeball which stretches all the tissue in your eye – causing you to be at significantly higher risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular holes. It is therefore crucial to slow down the progression of myopia in young children to prevent them from being at risk in the future.
Below we will discuss the lens technology available to reduce progression of myopia. Additionally, if you are interested in Ortho-K overnight lenses for myopia control, click here.
HOYA: MiYOSMART Lenses with D.I.M.S. Technology
Technology:
Hoya’s MiYOSMART lenses utilise D.I.M.S. (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) Technology. This patented design features a central clear vision zone to correct your child’s distance prescription. Surrounding this central zone, in a ring-shaped “treatment zone,” are hundreds of tiny, precisely placed lenslets that create a honeycomb shape.
How it Works:
While the central zone provides clear vision, the peripheral lenslets ensure that light rays focus in front of the retina in the periphery. This peripheral defocus is believed to inhibit the signals that promote eye elongation, thus slowing down myopia progression.
Clinical Evidence:
Out of all the lenses, MiYoSMART lenses contain the most clinical evidence, with a 2-year randomized controlled trial showing reduction in myopia progression by an average of 60% and axial elongation by 60% in Chinese school children compared to normal glasses. Long-term studies (up to 6 and 8 years) have shown sustained efficacy with no “rebound effect” upon discontinuation.
Key Features:
Made from impact-resistant polycarbonate material (1.59 index), making them durable for active children. They also offer built-in UV protection, scratch resistance, and water-repellent anti-reflective coatings. Hoya has expanded the range to include photochromic (MiYOSMART Chameleon) and polarised sunglass (MiYOSMART Sunbird) options for added protection in various lighting conditions.
Suitability:
Effective for children who are starting to develop myopia, are already myopic, or have progressing myopia. Recommended for consistent, full-time wear.
Essilor: Stellest Lenses with H.A.L.T. Technology
Technology:
Essilor’s Stellest lenses incorporate H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) Technology. This advanced design features a central clear vision zone (similar to MiYOSMART) for sharp distance vision. Surrounding this, there’s a highly sophisticated “myopia control zone” made up of 1,021 invisible, contiguous highly aspherical lenslets arranged in 11 concentric rings.
How it Works:
Unlike individual lenslets with a fixed power, each lenslet in the Stellest design creates a unique “volume of myopic defocus” that acts as a continuous signal to the eye, encouraging it to slow its growth.
Clinical Evidence:
Essilor reports that Stellest lenses slow myopia progression by an average of 67% compared to single vision lenses, based on a 2-year clinical trial. This efficacy is reportedly even higher when the lenses are worn for at least 12 hours per day. Five-year follow-up data also suggests sustained efficacy.
Key Features:
Manufactured from polycarbonate material (1.59 index) for impact resistance and come with Essilor’s well-regarded Crizal coatings (e.g., Crizal Rock) for scratch resistance, easy cleaning, and UV protection. They are designed to be cosmetically similar to regular single vision lenses.
Suitability:
Effective for children who are starting to develop myopia, are already myopic, or have progressing myopia. Recommended for consistent, full-time wear.