Misight Myopia Management Contact Lenses

Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is the most common reason for someone to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. Myopia typically first develops in children between the ages of 8 and 12. This is because, during this period, the eyes undergo rapid growth and development. In some children, the eyes grow too long from front to back. This is known as the axial length and when this happens, it causes images created from light passing through the eyes to be focused in front of the part of the eye called the retina, rather than directly onto it. The retina is responsible for receiving the image and sending it up to our brain, via the optic nerve, which interprets it and tells us what we can see. When the light is focused in front of the eye, the message isn’t accurate and distance vision appears blurred.

The Dangers of Myopia

Being nearsighted might not seem like a serious problem. After all, prescription lenses can be used to correct vision so that the patient can see clearly again. However, myopia is a progressive condition, particularly during childhood when it can get significantly worse. Studies have found that the higher the degree of myopia a child has, the greater their risk of experiencing other eye-related conditions is in the future. These are often referred to as complications of myopia, although they can also occur without being nearsighted. Some of the complications of high myopia include:

• Early-onset macular degeneration

• Glaucoma

• Cataracts

• Retinal detachment

Fortunately, the risks of these conditions and high myopia can be significantly reduced by undergoing myopia management treatment during the initial stages of development. This means that myopia management is typically recommended for children between the ages of 8 and 12 years of age. One of the most effective myopia management solutions for children is MiSight contact lenses.

What Are MiSight Contact Lenses?

MiSight contact lenses are single-use, disposable, soft contact lenses that are worn during the day and then discarded. They are not designed to be worn overnight like some other myopia management solutions. They should be worn daily, every day, in order to achieve the best results. Studies have found that wearing MiSight contact lenses has been shown to slow the progression of myopia more effectively than just wearing conventional soft contact lenses.

Their effectiveness is the result of the dual functionality of MiSight contact lenses, which work in two ways. Firstly, one part of the lens corrects the patient’s refractive error, improving their distance vision in a manner similar to a standard corrective contact lens. This eliminates their need for wearing corrective glasses during the day – something which can interfere with a child’s concentration and affect their confidence at school and in social situations. Secondly, concentric peripheral rings in the lens focus part of the light in front of the retina (the back of the eye) which is believed to reduce the stimulus that causes the progression of myopia. As a result, progression slows or even halts, reducing the extent to which your child experiences myopia as they get older.

MiSight contact lenses are extremely child-friendly as they are easy to handle, with around 90% of children being able to place and remove their contact lenses themselves with no adult assistance. They also prefer the ability to wear contacts over conventional corrective glasses.

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia and you’d like more information about myopia management and MiSight contact lenses, our friendly and knowledgeable team would be delighted to help. Please call our eye care office in Plano, TX today.