Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness, is rising rapidly among children and young adults across the world. It causes distant objects to appear blurred and can affect a child’s school performance, sports, and overall confidence. While standard glasses for short-sightedness are very effective at improving vision, an important question remains: are they enough to prevent myopia from getting worse, or do we need a different type of lens for myopia?
Why Does Myopia Progress Over Time
Myopia usually develops when the eyeball grows longer than normal, or when the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, resulting in blurred distance vision. Over time, this axial elongation can continue, especially in children, leading to higher myopia. The higher the myopia, the higher the lifetime risk of eye diseases such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
A regular near sightedness lenses are designed to correct blurry vision , but they do not control how the eye grows. This means the prescription may continue to increase even if the child is wearing their glasses full-time.
Are Standard Glasses Enough?
Conventional glasses for short sightedness use a single‑vision design: one uniform power across the lens that shifts the image back onto the retina for clear distance vision. While this is excellent for seeing clearly, it does not control the peripheral focus of light on the retina, which is believed to play a role in stimulating eye growth based on many research studies.
Because of this, a single‑vision eye lens for myopia correction is considered a “visual fix”, not a “myopia control” strategy. Children may still experience faster progression, need stronger prescriptions and face greater long‑term risks. For parents searching for ways to stop myopia from progressing, standard glasses alone may not be enough.
How to Control Myopia from Getting Worse: HOYA Solution
HOYA Vision Care has developed a specialized lens not only to correct vision but also to slow down myopia progression. MiYOSMART spectacle lenses. MiYOSMART is a clinically proven spectacle lens for myopia control that uses Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S.) technology, created in collaboration with leading researchers in myopia management.
D.I.M.S. technology combines two zones in a single near-sighted lens:
- A central clear zone that provides sharp distance vision for the child’s exact prescription.
- A surrounding treatment zone made up of hundreds of tiny segments that create controlled myopic defocus, sending a signal that helps slow down abnormal eye elongation.
Long‑term clinical studies have shown that MiYOSMART lenses can significantly reduce myopia progression and axial length growth in children compared with single‑vision lenses. This means MiYOSMART does more than ordinary glasses for short sightedness; it actively helps address the cause of worsening myopia.
MiYOSMART: Better Vision, Better Protection
MiYOSMART is designed to fit naturally into a child’s daily life while providing powerful myopia‑control benefits.
- Enhanced eye health protection: slowing myopia progression, can reduce the lifetime risk of serious eye complications associated with high myopia.
- Comfortable and durable: The lenses are made from a lightweight, impact‑resistant material suitable for active kids who run, play sports, and spend time outdoors.
- Aesthetic design: Despite the advanced D.I.M.S. structure, MiYOSMART looks like a regular pair of spectacles, addressing concerns about unusual‑looking eye lenses for myopia.
- UV protection and outdoor options: MiYOSMART Chameleon (photochromic) and MiYOSMART Sunbird (polarised) variants combine myopia management with protection against bright sunlight and harmful UV rays, making them ideal for outdoor use.
These features make MiYOSMART a strong option for treating myopia for families who want both clear vision and active control over progression, rather than relying solely on correction.
Lifestyle Tips Alongside MiYOSMART
Even with advanced lenses, daily habits play an important role in managing myopia progression.
- Encourage at least 2 hours of outdoor activity per day, where possible.
- Remind children to follow the “20‑20‑20” rule during near work (every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds).
- Maintain a reasonable reading distance of approx. 40-50 cms and proper lighting.
- Attend regular eye examinations so your eye care professional can track changes and adjust the eye lens for myopia if needed.
MiYOSMART works best as part of this holistic approach to visual habits and eye health.
When Should Parents Consider MiYOSMART?
Parents should speak to an eye care professional about MiYOSMART if:
- A child has recently been diagnosed with myopia.
- The prescription has increased noticeably over one or two years.
- There is a family history of high myopia.
- The child spends long hours on close-up tasks such as reading, online schooling, or gaming.
In these cases, switching from ordinary glasses for short-sightedness to a dedicated lens for myopia, such as MiYOSMART, can be an important step in protecting long‑term vision.
Your Next Step with HOYA
If your child is already wearing glasses for short sightedness and their prescription keeps changing. It may be time to think beyond vision correction alone.
Ask specifically whether HOYA MiYOSMART, a specialized lens to treat myopia, is suitable for your child’s lifestyle and visual needs.
By choosing a proven spectacle lens for myopia like MiYOSMART and combining it with healthy visual habits, you can take a proactive step toward slowing myopia progression, reducing future risks of high myopia, and supporting your child’s eye health with clearer, more comfortable vision for years to come.