Is MiyoSmart an option for managing your child’s myopia? Schedule an eye exam and inquire about MiyoSmart.
MiyoSmart Lenses
A recent study predicted that by the year 2050 half of the world’s population will be classified as myopic, or near-sighted. Of that portion of the population, 10% will develop myopia of 5.00D (diopters) or stronger. With that in mind, research has been ongoing into ways to manage, mitigate and minimize the effects of myopia, particularly in children if caught early enough.
In 2012, Hoya Vision Care partnered with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a leader in the field of myopia control research, to develop a new type of ophthalmic lens to better control developing myopia. The result of their combined efforts is the MiyoSmart lens.
What is MiyoSmart?
MiyoSmart lenses are specifically designed to control myopia progression, particularly in young children. They are single vision lenses that use a new technology called D.I.M.S, and a two-year clinical study started in 2014 found that the lenses can cut or reduce myopia progression by an average of 59%. In 2018 MiyoSmart was awarded the Grand Prize, Grand Award and Gold Medal at the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Switzerland.
D.I.M.S stands for Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments. The front of the lens has a small central zone that carries the patient’s full corrective prescription. Surrounding this zone are evenly placed smaller circular zones or “islands” of defocus, where the measured prescription is significantly weaker than the full myopic correction. This allows the patient to look through a lens that is both focused and defocused at the same time regardless of viewing distance.
But how does a lens with defocused segments improve myopic progression?
How Does MiyoSmart Work?
MiyoSmart relies on a natural mechanism of the eyes and brain known as “emmetropization”. Emmetropization is a process where a person’s eyeballs adapts and reshapes over time to receive focused images as it would for normal, “emmetropic” eye. When light enters an emmetropic eye, it lands perfectly on the retina at the back of the eye, which then sends signals to the brain to interpret into images. When light enters a myopic eye however, it lands behind the retina, resulting in unclear images. In growing children the length of the eye might change to try and correct for this error, leading to a myopic prescription.
With the D.I.M.S areas of defocus, MiyoSmart lenses simultaneously allow light to land both on the retina and in front of the retina. This encourages the eye to slow or halt the elongation reflex that would otherwise occur while still providing clear vision. For this type of therapy to effectively manage myopia progression it must be a continuous effect, hence the need for corrective lenses to be worn full time.
But how can functional, clear vision be achieved when parts of the lens are made with a weaker prescription? This is where the lens relies on another reflex of the brain, and its tendency to only focus on the clear inputs it receives and block out much of the blur. The ratio of full prescription power and weakened prescription is 50:50, a ratio that has been thoroughly tested and verified to provide comfortable vision for the wearer.
Why Choose MiyoSmart?
MiyoSmart is an easy, safe, and non-invasive solution for myopia progression management. The patient does nothing more than wear their glasses fitted with MiyoSmart lenses, and experience clear vision with their proper refractive correction and have their myopia progression slowed at the same time.
The lenses are made of polycarbonate, an impact resistant material great for protecting the eyes of even the most rough-and-tumble kids. At the same time, polycarbonate lenses are thin and lightweight, perfect for stronger myopic prescriptions that tend to produce thicker lenses. Every MiyoSmart lens is made with UV protection, scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coatings.
What Can Parents Expect from MiyoSmart?
Every child’s needs and adaptation tendencies are different, and it is important to consult and communicate with your child’s optometrist throughout this process. MiyoSmart has been studied with and is suitable for children between the ages of 6 to 18, although the optometrist will have the final determination. MiyoSmart lenses require specific fitting frames, as such every verified MiyoSmart dispenser has been trained to assist in the selection of frames appropriate for the lenses and your child.
It is expected to have a follow up visit with the Optometrist 2 weeks after the initial fitting and dispensing of the MiyoSmart glasses to evaluate adaptation and performance. After that, the child will be seen by the Optometrist every six months for regular myopia progression monitoring.
360 Eyecare is proud to be a trained and certified dispenser of MiyoSmart lenses. These lenses are available at our 360 Eyecare – Rosedale location. Children with valid OHIP cards are eligible to have a basic eye exam covered by the province once every 365 days. Give us a call to book your child their pediatric eye exam and discuss with our Optometrists if MiyoSmart is right for their needs.