Over the years, contact lenses have evolved. A new product called MiSight is giving children a new and improved option. MiSight lenses effectively treat myopia, otherwise known as nearsightedness.
Myopia is the medical term used for nearsightedness. Of all correctable visual impairments, myopia ranks number one. With this condition, the eye grows too long from the front to the back. As a result, images don’t focus on the retina. Instead, they focus at the front of it. With this refractive error, individuals can see things up close without any problem but everything at a distance appears blurry. Over time, myopia in children typically worsens. This refractive error puts them at risk of developing other problems. For example, they’re more prone to having premature cataracts and detached retinas as an adult.
To treat this condition, most opt for prescription eyeglasses or contacts. Although MiSight Lenses work similarly to conventional lenses, they’re unique.
These contacts slow the progression of myopia in children between the ages of eight and 12. Even more exciting, they slow the progression by as much as 59%. For instance, if an ophthalmologist or optometrist diagnoses a child with nearsightedness and predicts a diopter of -8.00, MiSight contact lenses can reduce that to about -3.50.
As the only contact lens on the market capable of doing this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved them in 2019.
Another benefit of wearing MiSight contacts over traditional lenses is their soft lens. Especially for younger wearers, they provide optimal comfort.
Also, an individual only wears them once before discarding them. It’s important to note that these contacts aren’t made for overnight wear. For that reason, users need to remove them from the eyes and discard them at the end of each day.