MYOPIA CONTACT LENSES | Eye Department Myopia Management

CONTACT LENSES FOR MYOPIA MANAGEMENT

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How effective are CooperVision MiSight Daily Contact Lenses?

🔬 Gold-standard clinical trial

A 3-year randomized controlled trial showed:

~59% reduction in myopia progression
~52% reduction in eye growth (axial length)
~Over 6 years, studies show up to ~70% cumulative reduction in progression

👉 That’s considered very strong efficacy in myopia management.

Key Differences From Other Dailies

FDA-approved (2019)
Specifically approved to:
- Correct vision AND slow myopia progression in children (ages 8–12)
Backed by:
- Randomized controlled trials (gold standard evidence)
- ~59% reduction in myopia progression over 3 years

Can't we just wait and see?

When a child is diagnosed with nearsightedness (myopia), many parents ask us the same question: “Can’t we just wait and see?” On the surface, this thought may seem reasonable, after all, traditional glasses and contact lenses correct vision. However, the rate of change in myopia is worse in children and young adults. At Eye Department, we are focused on the rate of change and risk factors that lead to that trajectory. Inaction during a continually advancing condition may be more detrimental to your child's vision both near-term and long-term.

Why “wait and see” can be risky

Progressive myopia means the eye is continuing to grow longer than it should, and that growth is what raises concern. It isn’t just about needing stronger glasses over time.

If we simply monitor without intervening:

The prescription may increase more quickly
The eye can become more elongated, which is permanent
Higher levels of myopia are linked later in life to increased risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular problems
Near-term negative impacts on performance in school, sports and social life.

By the time a parent can “see” significant progression, the eye's growth has occurred and can’t be undone.

Why early intervention matters

At Eye Department, we advocate for early intervention to slow the rate of progression while the eye is still developing. Early intervention provides the best chance to address the rate of change and slow the progression.

Think of it like this:

Myopia progression is often fastest in childhood
The earlier you intervene, the more opportunity you have to reduce total lifetime progression
Even a small reduction each year adds up to a meaningful difference in adulthood

Our goal for myopia management is not reversal of myopia, but rather the controlled reduction of eye elongation and its associated long term risk.

What proactive treatment can do

Proactive myopia therapy aims to slow eye growth (axial elongation) in children, rather than just correcting vision after it worsens. This treatment can:

Reduce how quickly prescriptions increase
Lower final levels of myopia in adulthood
Decrease lifetime risk of serious eye diseases linked to high myopia
Preserve long-term retinal and ocular health

What does proactive treatment look like?

Myopia management at Eye Department isn't just prescribing stronger glasses every year. It can include:

Specialized contact lenses designed to slow eye growth
Nightly low-dose atropine eye drops
Myopia-control eyeglass lenses
Lifestyle adjustments (like more outdoor time, less prolonged near vision work)
A combination of these treatment methods

Our pragmatic approach is supported by NIH and FDA research demonstrating that early intervention and close monitoring outperform long-term, unaddressed progression. Myopia management is a rapidly growing specialty with increasing investment from major corporations and researchers reflecting the strength of emerging evidence supporting these interventions.

The key trade-off

While “wait and see” feels safer in the short term because it avoids treatment, it could be more detrimental near and long-term.
Keep in mind, sacrificing:

Higher prescriptions
More challenges in school, sports and social
Greater lifelong eye health risks
Increases the lifetime costs of eye care

Proactive treatment, on the other hand:

Involves more effort and cost upfront
But aims to reduce future risk and severity
Slowing the trajectory of change can positively impact success in school, sports and social

A balanced consideration

It’s understandable to want to wait and see. At the same time, when myopia is getting worse, it raises the question: wouldn’t it make more sense to invest in treatment now, while we can still influence the outcome, rather than do nothing and watch it progress?

Contact Lenses for Myopia Management in Children

Myopia (nearsightedness) is becoming increasingly common in children and often at an accelerating rate. While standard glasses or contact lenses can correct blurry vision, they do not address the underlying progression of myopia.

Today, specialty contact lenses for myopia management offer a proactive solution to both correct vision and slowing myopia progression. Explore these resources to learn how specialty contact lenses can be an excellent option for your child.

What Is Myopia Management?

Myopia management is a specialized treatment approach designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children and young adults. By addressing how the eye grows over time, these treatments can reduce the risk of developing high myopia and future eye health complications.

How Do Contact Lenses Help Control Myopia?

Myopia control contact lenses are specially designed to change how light focuses on the retina, helping signal the eye to slow excessive growth. This is one of the main causes of worsening nearsightedness. Unlike standard contact lenses, myopia management contact lenses not only correct blurry vision but also help slow the acceleration of myopia over time.

For many families, contact lenses are also a practical, lifestyle friendly solution. This is especially true for children who are active in sports, school, and extracurricular activities.

Key benefits of myopia management contact lenses include:

Clear, stable vision all day without the limitations of glasses
Proven to slow myopia progression and support long term eye health
Freedom for sports and physical activities, with no frames to slip, fog, or break.
Improved confidence at school, especially for kids who prefer not to wear glasses.
Noninvasive and evidence based treatment option
Safe and comfortable for children when properly fitted and monitored.

For active kids, contact lenses can make a meaningful difference by providing both effective myopia control and the flexibility to fully participate in daily life without visual barriers.

FDA Approved & New Advanced Contact Lens Options

MiSight® 1 Day Contact Lenses

CooperVision MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are the first and only FDA-approved soft contact lenses proven to slow myopia progression in children. Using ActivControl® technology, the lens features a dual-focus design that creates peripheral defocus to help slow eye growth while providing clear, comfortable vision throughout the day.

Key benefits:

Daily disposable for convenience and hygiene
Clinically proven to slow myopia progression
Comfortable and easy for children to adapt to
Ideal for younger patients and first-time contact lens wearers

BeFree™ Daily Contact Lenses

Euclid Vision BeFree™ lenses are FDA-approved daily disposable contact lenses for myopia management, offering another advanced option for children. Euclid BeFree Day lenses are built on proprietary optical technology exclusively licensed from the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI), a global leader in myopia research and lens innovation. This advanced multistep design creates controlled peripheral defocus to help manage myopia progression while maintaining clear, comfortable vision throughout the day.

Eye Department is proud to be the first practice in Oregon to prescribe BeFree™ lenses, bringing this innovative technology to local families.

Key benefits:

Specially designed daily disposable for easy, hygienic use
Designed to both correct vision and slow myopia progression
Comfortable for all-day wear
Great option for children who prefer soft contact lenses

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Contact lenses for myopia management are ideal for:

Children with progressing nearsightedness
Kids who spend a lot of time reading indoors
Children whose parents are myopic
Active children who prefer freedom from glasses
Parents seeking proactive, long-term vision care
.We even have success working with college and graduate school young adults who are wearing these lenses currently.
Kids who are motivated and families who are looking for performance improvements in school, sports and social life

Are Contact Lenses Safe for Children?

Yes. With proper fitting, education, and monitoring, contact lenses are safe and effective for children. Many children as young as 6–8 years old successfully wear contact lenses.

At Eye Department, we provide:

One-on-one training for insertion and removal
Trial lenses for multiple brand fits are included in program investment
Hygiene and safety education for families
Regular follow-ups to monitor eye health and treatment progress

Why Choose Eye Department for Myopia Management?

Expertise in pediatric myopia management
Access to FDA-approved and cutting-edge lens technology
First provider in Oregon to offer BeFree™ lenses
Customized treatment plans based on your child’s needs
Advanced diagnostic tools for precise fitting and monitoring
A pragmatic philosophy centered in proactive early interventions combined with close monitoring and continual adjustments.

Use the link below to schedule a Myopia Management Evaluation.

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Schedule Your Child’s Myopia Evaluation Today