You’re seeing it more often in your practice: children presenting with myopia at younger ages, and progressing faster than expected. What may appear to parents as a routine prescription update is, in reality, a progressive condition with lasting consequences if it isn’t addressed early.
With MiYOSMART, you can now go beyond correcting vision. You can prescribe a proven solution to help slow the progression of myopia in your youngest patients. That makes this more than just a treatment option — it’s a matter of ethical responsibility. As a trusted eye care professional (ECP), you have a duty to offer interventions that can positively impact a child’s future. By taking action, you’re not only improving how children see today, but also potentially improving their long-term eye health and quality of life.
Understanding the Myopic Patient
Today’s emerging myope is often a child or young teen whose lifestyle involves hours of reading, schoolwork, and screen time, paired with less time outdoors than previous generations. This pattern of extended near work and limited outdoor activity creates the perfect conditions for myopia to progress. While glasses or contact lenses may provide clear vision in the moment, the real concern lies in how quickly that prescription can change—and what it means for a child’s future eye health.
Research shows that with every 1 diopter increase in myopia, the chance of developing serious eye diseases later in life (such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts) rises by 58%¹. Left unchecked, myopia can affect a child’s daily life. Standard single vision lenses may leave them with periods of blurry vision between eye exams and prescription updates. This can mean struggling to see the board at school, feeling frustrated during sports, or losing confidence in hobbies and social activities. Addressing myopia early with targeted treatment is not only about improving long-term eye health and avoiding stronger prescriptions—it’s about supporting a child’s success and confidence today.
Limitations of Traditional Solutions
When faced with childhood myopia, many families assume that standard single vision lenses are the solution. While these lenses correct blurred distance vision, they do nothing to slow the underlying progression of myopia. As a result, prescriptions continue to change, leaving children in a cycle of increasingly stronger lenses and greater long-term risk.
Other myopia management methods, such as contact lenses or atropine drops, can be effective—but they often present practical barriers. Many young children are hesitant or unable to adapt to contact lenses, while eye drops can be perceived as invasive and challenging to incorporate into a daily routine. In fact, both contact lenses and eye drops could be considered invasive, as they require direct contact with the body—unlike glasses, which are entirely non-invasive. This distinction can be a deciding factor for many families. For parents already juggling the unpredictability of a child’s bedtime routine, adding a procedure like eye drops can turn into a nightly struggle. Such challenges may lead to hesitation or resistance from both children and caregivers, potentially affecting adherence to the treatment plan prescribed by their optometrist. Research shows that most children and their parents prefer MiYOSMART spectacle lenses over atropine or contact lenses, citing the comfort, convenience, and non-invasive design of a spectacle lens.²
By offering MiYOSMART, you can provide patients with a solution that not only manages their myopia progression effectively, but also supports their confidence and quality of life. For parents, choosing a treatment that feels both effective and practical builds deeper trust in you as their provider and reinforces the value of your practice as a partner in their child’s long-term eye health.
With MiYOSMART, There’s an Easier, Proven Way to Treat Myopia
MiYOSMART offers a unique advantage in myopia management: it not only corrects vision, but also slows the progression of myopia in children. Unlike traditional single vision lenses, MiYOSMART’s design provides a proven, non-invasive way to manage myopia over the long term.¹ Evidence shows that children who wear MiYOSMART lenses consistently achieve stronger outcomes, with average myopia progression of less than -0.50D over an 8-year period.⁴
The impact of this technology is far-reaching. MiYOSMART is now available in 40 countries worldwide, reflecting its global recognition and adoption as a trusted myopia management solution. Its effectiveness is further reinforced by a growing body of research, with more than 90 scientific publications supporting its safety and efficacy.⁵
For providers, this means confidence in offering a treatment that is both evidence-based and widely embraced, while for patients and parents, it delivers peace of mind that their child’s vision is being managed with one of the most validated solutions available today.
Talking Points for Patient Conversations
When discussing myopia management, it helps to frame the conversation in ways that are easy for parents to understand. Focus on the following key points:
1. Emphasize Early Intervention
- Why it matters: Younger children tend to progress faster, and early-onset myopia increases the likelihood of high myopia later in life.⁶
- How to say it: “The earlier we begin to manage myopia, or nearsightedness, the better chance we have of effectively slowing its progression.”
2. Explain Long-Term Eye Health Risks
- Why it matters: Higher levels of myopia are associated with greater risks of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and other serious eye conditions.
- How to say it: “Higher levels of myopia can increase the risk of eye health issues later in life.”
3. Reassure and Normalize
- Why it matters: Many families may feel concerned or uncertain about myopia management options. Showing empathy builds trust.
- How to say it: “You’re not alone. Many families deal with myopia, and there are proven ways we can help slow it down.”
4. Highlight Daily Life Benefits
- Why it matters: Children benefit when vision correction is consistent and convenient, helping them succeed in school, sports, and hobbies without interruptions.
- How to say it: “With MiYOSMART, your child can see clearly and comfortably for school, sports, and hobbies without worrying about daily drops or contact lenses.”
5. Use Visual Tools for Impact
- Why it matters: Seeing the potential progression of myopia visually makes the benefits of early treatment tangible for parents.
- How to say it: “We can use the Myopia Simulator to show what progression could look like if left untreated. Seeing it visually makes the benefits of early treatment clear.”
6. Reinforce Your Role as a Partner
- Why it matters: Parents want to know their child’s care is in expert hands and that treatment decisions are guided by trusted professionals.
- How to say it: “Our goal is to work with you to protect your child’s vision today and for the future. Together, we can take steps to slow myopia progression effectively.”
To drive these points home, consider using a visual aid such as the Myopia Simulator to show what progression, if undeterred, can look like. Showing parents what untreated myopia progression could look like over time makes the benefits of early intervention tangible. This interactive tool not only reinforces the importance of timely treatment, but also helps parents understand how MiYOSMART can actively slow progression, giving them confidence in your recommendation and peace of mind that their child’s long-term eye health is in good hands.
Addressing myopia early is critical—not only to provide children with clear vision today, but to improve their long-term eye health. Empirical research consistently supports MiYOSMART as a safe, effective, and convenient solution for slowing myopia progression in young patients. To explore the full body of evidence behind MiYOSMART and learn how it can benefit your practice, discover the complete overview of all MiYOSMART research to date, and ask your HOYA Territory Manager about incorporating MiYOSMART into your patient offerings