Did you know that Myopia can start affecting kids as early as 6 years old? Myopia affects one in three people and over one-third of the world’s population has the condition.

While myopia cannot be reversed or cured, an innovative solution does exist. MiYOSMART spectacle lenses for kids help slow down myopia progression in a safe, effective way.

What is myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a common condition that makes distant objects blurry. This happens when the eyeball is too long from front to back.

Myopia can also develop when the cornea, the clear front layer of the eye, is curved too steeply. When light enters the eye, the light rays should be focused on nerve tissues at the back of the eye (retina), but are instead focused in front of the retina.

A normal eye length is 22 to 24mm. When the eye grows to longer than 26mm, the risk of your child suffering vision impairment in their lifetime is 25%. If the eye grows to more than 30mm, which can occur in very high myopia, the risk skyrockets to 90%.

Typically myopia starts in childhood and rapidly progresses throughout adolescence before stabilizing between the ages of 20 and 40.

What causes myopia?

Research shows that myopia, or the tendency to develop myopia, may be hereditary. Kids are more likely to develop myopia if one or both parents have the condition. Behavioral and environmental factors also play a part in developing myopia.

Screentime, studying, reading and spending less time outdoors also increases the risk of developing myopia, due to increased eye strain.

Symptoms of myopia include:

• Complaints of blurry vision and not being able to see the board in school
• Squinting to try to see better
• Frequent eye rubbing
• Frequent headaches
• Holding objects closely to eyes

How to manage myopia in kids

MiYOSMART for kids

As myopia cannot be reversed or cured, the best way to avoid long term vision issues is proactive, early management.

Typically, myopia is corrected with standard single vision spectacle lenses that provide clear and sharp vision. The con is that these lenses don’t slow down myopia progression. However, MiYOSMART spectacle lenses do both.

Developed in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, MiYOSMART uses revolutionary D.I.M.S. honeycomb-shaped segments to correct the visual defect using a focus area on the lenses. This provides clear vision and manages myopia simultaneously.

A two-year clinical trial showed that daily use of MiYOSMART spectacle lenses slowed down myopia progression on average by 60% compared to wearing standard single vision lenses.

The MiYOSMART eye shield is made of impact resistant material to keep your active kids safe while also providing UV protection.

When it comes to frame selection and fitting, your kid doesn’t have to settle. There are no limitations for the children’s eyewear frame choice, as MiYOSMART spectacle lenses are easy to adapt and they appear as standard single vision spectacle lenses.

Visit Beyond Vision to learn more about MiYOSMART for kids

Our goal at Beyond Vision is to give you the best treatment possible to slow the progression of your myopia. Learn more about myopia control and children’s eye exams by booking an appointment at one of Beyond Vision’s five locations in Edmonton and Leduc!