How Do MiSight® Lenses Work to Slow Myopia Progression?

When a child is diagnosed with myopia, one of the first concerns parents have is how quickly it might worsen. While glasses help children see clearly, they don’t slow the progression of nearsightedness. MiSight® lenses were developed to do both: provide clear vision and actively help manage the underlying eye growth that causes myopia to progress. Understanding how these lenses work can help you make an informed decision about your child’s eye health.
 

What Is Myopia and Why Does It Progress?

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back. Instead of light focusing directly on the retina, it focuses in front of it, causing distant objects to appear blurry.

In children, myopia often worsens as they grow. Progressive myopia can increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
 

What Are MiSight® Lenses?

MiSight® 1 day lenses are FDA-approved soft contact lenses specifically designed to both correct vision and slow the progression of myopia in children. They were developed by CooperVision and are approved for children as young as 8 years old. Unlike traditional single-vision contact lenses, MiSight® lenses use a special dual-focus design.
 

The Science Behind How MiSight® Lenses Work

MiSight® lenses are designed to provide clear, reliable vision while also addressing the underlying cause of myopia progression. The center of the lens corrects your child’s blurry distance vision just like a traditional contact lens. This allows them to see clearly in the classroom, on the field, and throughout their daily activities without compromising visual clarity.

What makes MiSight® lenses different is their advanced peripheral defocus technology. Research shows that when light entering from the sides of the eye focuses behind the retina, it can signal the eye to continue growing longer, which worsens myopia over time.

MiSight® lenses are specially designed to create what is known as myopic defocus in the peripheral retina. While the center of the lens corrects vision, the outer zones gently shift peripheral light to focus slightly in front of the retina instead of behind it. This subtle change sends a signal to the eye to slow down elongation. By reducing the stimulus for continued eye growth, MiSight® lenses help slow the progression of myopia over time.
 

What Makes MiSight® Different from Regular Contacts?

Traditional contact lenses only correct blurry vision. They do not address the underlying progression of myopia.

MiSight® lenses are specifically engineered to:

• Correct vision
• Influence how light focuses on the retina
• Help slow the physical growth of the eye

Clinical studies have shown that children wearing MiSight® lenses experienced significantly less myopia progression compared to those wearing regular single-vision lenses.
 

Who Is a Good Candidate for MiSight®?

MiSight® lenses may be recommended if your child:

• Is between 8 and 12 years old at the start of treatment
• Has been diagnosed with progressing myopia
• Is comfortable learning to handle contact lenses
• Has healthy eyes with no contraindications for contact lens wear

A comprehensive eye exam is the best way to determine if MiSight® is appropriate for your child.
 

Learn If MiSight® Is Right for Your Child

MiSight® lenses are more than just vision correction - they are an evidence-based tool designed to slow the progression of myopia in children. By using advanced dual-focus technology to manage how light reaches the retina, these lenses help control eye growth while providing clear, comfortable vision.

If you have questions about MiSight® lenses or would like to learn whether they are right for your child, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Brianna Herring, O.D. today. Visit our office in Deerfield Beach or Plantation, Florida. Please call (786) 891-2020 or (954) 472-2676 to book an appointment.