August 16, 2024

If you’re concerned about myopia, also known as nearsightedness, in your child, you’re not alone. Myopia cases continue to rise across the globe as a significant health concern.1 It’s estimated that around 30 percent of the world’s population has myopia and that number is expected to reach 50 percent by 2050.2

 

Childhood myopia is also on the rise.1,2 Myopia can interfere with a child’s quality of life as it becomes harder for them to participate in school, sports, and other activities.3,4 As their condition worsens, the risk of further eye health conditions increase, such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.5-8 The good news is being well-informed about myopia management can make a difference.

How myopia perceptions impact the management of myopia

A study shows that the more awareness a parent has regarding their children’s vision, the lower their risk of childhood myopia.9,10∞ But do parents know what myopia is and why it’s important to treat it instead of simply correcting it? A study from a few years ago found that only 33 percent of parents were familiar with the term “myopia” or how it affects children’s vision.11

 

More recently, parents with myopia and children under eighteen participated in a survey to discuss their myopia perceptions and understanding of current treatment options. This study showed that almost half of parents who attended an eye doctor visit with their children were aware of what myopia is but were unaware of available treatments for their child.12

 

So while myopia awareness may seem to be growing, there is still more work to do to educate parents with information to help protect their children’s vision from worsening. 

The key to myopia management is early intervention

What parents need to understand is myopia is irreversible and usually progresses rapidly in younger children.13 Therefore, starting treatment as soon as possible is very important.13

 

The Canadian Association of Optometrists has issued the position that Myopia Management should be standard of care.14 In Canada, we have many options for myopia management, such as MiSight® 1 day contact lenses.

Using MiSight® 1 day contact lenses for children

MiSight® 1 day contact lenses from CooperVision are the first and only FDA-approved* treatment proven to help slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8 to 12 who were prescribed the lenses at the initiation of treatment.15†

 

MiSight® 1 day is dual-purpose, designed to both immediately correct vision, allowing the child to see objects clearly, and help to control the progression of myopia.15‡

 

Through early intervention, you have the power to help protect their vision from worsening with the first and only FDA approved* product proven to slow the progression of myopia in children, aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment.15† 

 

The key to myopia management isn’t simply providing clear vision with ordinary glasses and contact lenses, it’s to take action to help slow the progression of myopia.16

 

Find an eye doctor and ask how MiSight® 1 day contact lenses can help.

Indications and Important Safety Information.

Rx only.

Results may vary.

ATTENTION: Reference the Patient Information Booklet for a complete listing of Indications and

Important Safety Information. *USA Indication: MiSight® 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic)

contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal. Canadian Indication: MiSight® (omafilcon A) Soft Contact Lenses for Myopia Control are indicated for the correction of ametropia (myopia and hyperopia) in aphakic and non-aphakic persons with non-diseased eyes in powers from -20.00D to +2.00 diopters. The lenses may be worn by persons who exhibit astigmatism of -2.00 diopters or less that does not interfere with visual acuity. MiSight (omafilcon A) Soft Contact Lenses for Myopia Control may reduce the rate of myopia progression in children (6-18) and correct ametropia. Reduction of myopia progression was observed in children with wearing time of 12 hours (8-16 hours) per day, 6.4 days (5-7) per week in a clinical study. Permanent myopia control after lens treatment is discontinued is not supported by clinical studies. MiSight (omafilcon A) Soft Contact Lenses for Myopia Control are indicated for single use daily disposable wear. When prescribed for daily disposable wear, the lens is to be discarded after each removal. Warnings: Problems with contact lenses could result in serious injury to the eye. Do not expose contact lenses to water while wearing them. No overnight wear. Patients should exercise extra care if performing potentially hazardous activities. Adverse events: Including but not limited to infection/inflammation/ulceration/abrasion of the cornea, other parts of the eye or eyelids. Some of these adverse reactions can cause permanent or temporary loss of vision. If you notice any of the stated adverse reactions in your child, immediately have your child remove the lenses and contact your eye care professional.

 

∞ 28% immediately, 27% within one week, 25% within one month; in total 80% ranging from immediately to a month.

† Compared to a single vision lens over a 3 year period.

‡ Over a 3 year period, MiSight® 1 day reduced myopia progression on average by 59% compared to a single vision contact lens.

 

  1. Holden BA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016 May;123(5):1036-42. 
  2. Sankaridurg P, Tahhan N, Kandel H, et al. IMI Impact of Myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2021 Apr 28;62(5):2.
  3. E. L. Lamoureux, J. Wang, T. Aung, S. M. Saw, T. Y. Wong; Myopia and Quality of Life: The Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2008;49(13):4469.
  4. Chua S.Y.L., Foster P.J. (2020) The Economic and Societal Impact of Myopia and High Myopia. In: Ang M., Wong T. (eds) Updates on Myopia. Springer, Singapore.
  5. Xu L, Wang Y, Wang S, Jonas JB. High myopia and glaucoma susceptibility, the Beijing Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2007;114(2):216-20.
  6. Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2013;31(6):622-60.
  7. Younan C, et al. Myopia and incident cataract and cataract surgery: the blue mountains eye study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002;43(12):3625-3632.
  8. Chen SJ, et al. Prevalence and associated risk factors of myopic maculopathy in elderly Chinese: the Shihpai eye study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(8):4868-73.
  9. Zhou S, Yang L, Lu B, et al. Association between parents’ attitudes and behaviors toward children’s visual care and myopia risk in school-aged children. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Dec; 96(52): e9270.
  10. CVI data on file 2022. US online research survey with 950 parents of children aged 5-15 years who do not currently use MiSight 1 day.
  11. CooperVision data on file 2019. Myopia Awareness, The Harris Poll online survey 6/27/19 to 7/18/19 of n=1,005 parents (with child age 8-15) in U.S. Number increases to 48% or 52% if parent or child respectively had myopia.
  12. Luo EL, Wong R. Parental Attitudes Toward Myopia Management. AAPOS 2023 Meeting Poster. 
  13. K. Zadnik, G.L. Mitchell, L.A. Jones, D.O. Mutti; Factors Associated with Rapid Myopia Progression in School-aged Children . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004;45(13):2306.
  14. Canadian Association of Optometrist, Position Statement on Myopia Management. https://opto.ca/document/cao-position-statement-myopia-management. Accessed July 2024. 
  15. Chamberlain P et al A 3-year Randomized Clinical Trial of MiSight® Lenses for Myopia Control. Optom Vis Sci 2019 Aug;96(8):556-567.
  16. World Council of Optometry. Resolution: The standard of care for Myopia Management by Optometrists. https://worldcouncilofoptometry.info/resolution-the-standard-of-care-for-myopia-management-by-optometrists/. Accessed July 2024. 

 

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