Multifocal soft contact lenses offer children a comfortable, effective way to slow down myopia progression while correcting their vision. These lenses use special optics that signal the eye to slow its growth, helping protect your child's long-term eye health.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision problems in children today. Children with myopia can see up close but have difficulty seeing far away. They often need glasses to read the board at school or see distant objects clearly. Myopia is becoming more common worldwide.
Many families think of myopia as simply needing stronger glasses each year. But as myopia worsens, the risks become more serious. Higher levels of myopia increase the chance of developing eye diseases later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and permanent retinal damage.
Myopia management means actively slowing down the progression of nearsightedness. This is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your child's vision for years to come.
Multifocal soft contact lenses do more than sharpen vision. They help slow the eye's growth as your child gets older. This matters because too much growth leads to higher prescriptions and more risk later on.
These lenses use special optics to create a soft, out-of-focus pattern on the edges of the retina. This pattern, called myopic defocus, signals the eye to slow its growth. Research shows this approach slows down myopia over time. It is supported by years of studies and is now a main option for children with progressive myopia.
MiSight 1 day by CooperVision is the first and only soft contact lens for myopia control approved by the FDA. This lens has become a popular choice for parents seeking a well-studied, easy-to-use solution for children ages 8 to 12, especially in the early years of myopia diagnosis.
MiSight uses a dual-focus design with alternating rings built into each lens. Some rings provide clear distance vision while others create the defocus pattern that slows the eye's growth. Your child sees sharply through the correction zones while the surrounding treatment zones project focused light slightly in front of the retina. This gentle effect helps slow down the lengthening of the eye and reduces the rate at which myopia gets worse.
In a 3-year clinical study with children aged 8 to 12, MiSight lenses slowed myopia progression by about 59%. They also slowed the eye from getting longer by 52%, which helps control worsening vision. A 6-year follow-up showed continued benefits, with a total myopia reduction of about 71% in the later years. When children stopped wearing MiSight, their nearsightedness did not suddenly get worse.
MiSight is designed for children who are just starting to develop myopia, typically with prescriptions between -0.75 and -4.00 diopters, a unit used to measure the focusing power of a lens. It can be prescribed for higher prescriptions up to about -6.00 diopters based on availability and your doctor's assessment. Children as young as 8, or sometimes younger with extra guidance, can learn to use MiSight with proper training and support.
MiSight lenses are worn during the day and thrown away at night. No cleaning or disinfecting is needed. This makes them one of the safest and most convenient options for children. Many families appreciate MiSight for its easy daily routine and the reassurance that comes from a lens with a strong track record in clinical research.
NaturalVue Multifocal by Visioneering Technologies is another option for myopia management. This daily disposable lens was first created for adults with reading vision issues but was quickly found to be highly effective at slowing myopia progression in children. While not FDA-approved for myopia management, it is used off-label with a growing body of clinical and real-world evidence supporting its use.
NaturalVue is built with an extended depth-of-focus design. This creates a gentle, continuous change in lens power from the center outward. The lens always projects strong plus power toward the edge of vision, placing peripheral light in front of the retina and signaling the eye to slow its growth. Unlike other lenses that use distinct rings, NaturalVue's aspheric profile creates a seamless effect while still offering clear vision for daily life.
In a study with nearly 200 children and young adults, NaturalVue lenses slowed nearsightedness progression by about 85% over time. About 91% of those wearing NaturalVue had slower vision worsening compared to before using the lenses. About 79% showed very good improvement, reducing nearsightedness progression by at least 70%. Some children even experienced a small improvement in their vision.
One of the biggest advantages of NaturalVue is its broad prescription range. It can be used for children with myopia up to -12.25 diopters, so even kids with more advanced prescriptions have an effective option. NaturalVue is also suitable for children with some astigmatism, up to about 2 diopters, that can be masked by the lens design.
Like MiSight, NaturalVue lenses are inserted each morning and thrown away at night. No cleaning is required, helping families stay on top of hygiene and making daily routines easier. Real-world studies from eye doctors have shown that children wearing NaturalVue experience a major slowdown, or even a pause, in myopia progression.
Not every child's eyes fit neatly into the parameters of standard lenses. For children with very high myopia, significant astigmatism, or unique eye shapes, SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal lenses offer a personalized solution. These are custom-crafted soft contacts made to order for each individual child.
SpecialEyes lenses are created based on your child's exact eye measurements, prescription, and visual needs. Unlike mass-produced options, these lenses can be made for nearly any prescription, up to plus or minus 25.00 diopters and -8.00 diopters of astigmatism. They can also be customized in terms of lens diameter, curvature, and optical profile.
For myopia control, a distance-center multifocal lens is designed with high add power in the periphery. This creates a strong myopic defocus effect similar to the mechanism in MiSight and NaturalVue. If needed, the lens can be adjusted to reduce ghosting, improve comfort, or optimize for your child's pupil size. For those with significant astigmatism, a toric multifocal version can be prescribed.
SpecialEyes is often the best choice for children whose eyes fall outside the range of standard daily disposables. This includes those with complex prescriptions or high astigmatism. Because these lenses are made just for your child, they can address unique fit or comfort issues and maximize the treatment effect.
SpecialEyes lenses are worn during the day and removed each night for cleaning. They are reused for up to three months before replacement. Daily hygiene is very important, and our team will teach both parents and children how to handle, clean, and store the lenses safely. While the process takes more care than daily disposables, many families find it very manageable with support.
Choosing the right myopia control contact lens depends on your child's age, prescription, lifestyle, and comfort with lens care routines. Each option brings unique benefits for different needs. During your consultation, our doctors will review your child's prescription, age, eye shape, and lifestyle. They will guide you toward the lens that provides the best combination of vision, safety, and myopia control.
Each lens serves a different range of needs.
All three options are designed to help slow the progression of myopia. Ongoing follow-up care ensures your child remains comfortable, healthy, and seeing their best every step of the way. Our doctors hold advanced training and fellowships in myopia management, including Dr. Thanh Mai, OD, FSLS, FIAOMC, Dr. Nathan Schramm, OD, FSLS, FBCLA, and Dr. Ariel Chen, OD.
Consider scheduling an evaluation if your child shows any of these signs.
The earlier myopia management begins, the better the potential outcomes. Starting treatment when your child's prescription is still low can help keep their eyes healthier over time. Our optometrists use advanced technology like the Zeiss AXL WAVE Optical Biometer and Pentacam to track eye growth and monitor treatment progress. You can also use our children's symptom checker to help identify early warning signs.
Most children can begin wearing myopia control contact lenses around age 8. Some younger children may be candidates with extra guidance and training from the eye care team. Your child's maturity and ability to follow lens care instructions will be considered during the evaluation.
Yes, when used as directed, myopia control contact lenses are safe for children. Daily disposable lenses like MiSight and NaturalVue reduce the risk of infection because a fresh lens is used each day. For reusable lenses like SpecialEyes, proper cleaning and storage are important to maintain eye health.
The goal of myopia control is to slow progression over time, not to improve existing myopia. Results are typically measured over months and years by tracking changes in prescription and eye length. Most families notice that their child's prescription changes more slowly than before starting treatment.
Yes. Soft contact lenses are often preferred for sports because they provide a wider field of view than glasses and stay in place during physical activity. Many children find that contact lenses improve their confidence and performance in sports and other activities.
If treatment is discontinued, myopia progression may resume at its previous rate, but published data on MiSight did not show a sudden rebound effect. Continuing treatment for as long as recommended gives the best chance of slowing progression throughout childhood. Your doctor will discuss the best timeline for your child.
Your child may still need a backup pair of glasses for times when they cannot wear contacts, such as during eye infections or when swimming. Some families also choose to have glasses available for evening use after lenses are removed for the day.
