Myopia Control: Slow Your Child’s Progression
Evidence-based treatments to protect long-term eye health
Childhood myopia does not just mean thicker glasses each year. Higher myopia raises the lifetime risk of serious eye conditions like retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy. Myopia control treatments slow progression so your child ends up at a lower final prescription — and a lower long-term risk.
What is Myopia Control?
Myopia control is a set of evidence-based treatments that slow the progression of nearsightedness — rather than just correcting it with stronger glasses every year. These treatments work by changing the optical signals the eye receives during growth, which reduces how quickly the eye elongates.
There are four main myopia control options used in Canada today: ortho-k, MiSight soft contact lenses, low-dose atropine eye drops, and specialty myopia control glasses such as Stellest and MiYOSMART. A thorough assessment helps decide which option fits your child's age, prescription, and lifestyle best.
Why Every Diopter Matters
Myopia is not just a lens-strength issue. The higher a child's final prescription, the higher their adult risk of vision-threatening eye disease. Every diopter prevented meaningfully reduces that lifetime risk.
| Myopia Level | Retinal Detachment Risk | Myopic Maculopathy Risk | Glaucoma Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (-1.00 to -3.00) | 4× normal | Low | Slightly elevated |
| Moderate (-3.00 to -6.00) | 10× normal | Moderate | 2× normal |
| High (over -6.00) | 22× normal | High | 3× normal |
Risk figures reflect commonly cited ranges from peer-reviewed myopia literature. Keeping a child at -3.00 instead of -6.00 means substantially lower lifetime risk — not just thinner glasses.
The Four Main Myopia Control Options
Each treatment works differently and suits different children. Here is how they compare, with links to the clinical trials that support their effectiveness.
Custom rigid lenses worn overnight gently reshape the cornea, giving clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts. Also one of the strongest myopia control options.
Effectiveness: ~40-60% slowing of progression. Supported by the LORIC and ROMIO trials.
Best for: Children age 8+ with low-to-moderate myopia and active lifestyles; adults who want freedom from daytime lenses.
Full ortho-k guide →Daily disposable soft contact lenses worn during the day. The first soft lens specifically designed and approved for myopia control in children.
Effectiveness: 59% reduction in progression in a 3-year randomized trial, with 6-year follow-up confirming sustained effect.
Best for: Children age 8+ comfortable with daytime contact lens wear; families who prefer a fresh pair each day.
A single drop in each eye once daily at bedtime. The lowest-friction option — no contacts, no special glasses — and often used as combination therapy.
Effectiveness: ~30-50% slowing depending on concentration. Evidence from the ATOM2 and LAMP studies.
Best for: Younger children (even as young as 4-5), kids who cannot tolerate contacts, and patients needing a complement to another treatment.
Purpose-built spectacle lenses — Stellest (Essilor) and MiYOSMART (Hoya) — that use specialized lenslet technology to slow eye elongation while providing everyday vision correction.
Effectiveness: ~50-67% slowing. Supported by a 2-year MiYOSMART trial showing 59% reduction, and Stellest trial data showing up to 67% in full-time wearers.
Best for: Children not ready for contacts, families who prefer glasses, and kids with daily near-work demands.
Choosing the Right Option for Your Child
There is no single best treatment — the right option depends on the child. A myopia control consultation walks through each of these factors before recommending a path.
Younger kids may start with atropine or specialty glasses. Older children who can handle contacts often do well with ortho-k or MiSight.
Some options work best in mild-to-moderate ranges. Higher prescriptions may call for combination therapy or a specific treatment.
Sports, swimming, glasses tolerance, and bedtime routine all influence which option will be easiest to stick with.
How fast myopia has been advancing in recent exams guides how aggressive the treatment needs to be.
Your Myopia Control Optometrists
Fluent in English and Cantonese
Dr. Melissa Yeung is a neuro-optometrist with advanced training in vision therapy, neuro-optometric rehabilitation, and complex visual disorders. Following her Doctor of Optometry degree from UC Berkeley, she completed a competitive Residency in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation at SUNY College of Optometry in New York City, where her clinical excellence earned her the Dr. Martin Birnbaum Memorial Award for expertise in behavioural optometry. She is a Fellow of the Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (FOVDR).
Fluent in English and Cantonese
Dr. Jason Huang grew up in Toronto and majored in Biology at Ryerson University before earning his Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry (NECO) in Boston. At NECO, known for its strong clinical training, he gained diverse experience through rotations in primary care, specialty contact lenses, low vision, binocular vision, and ocular disease clinics.
Myopia Control Cost & Insurance
Costs vary by treatment. Ortho-k and MiSight programs bundle fitting, lenses, and follow-ups for the year. Atropine drops are the lowest-cost option. Specialty lenses like Stellest and MiYOSMART are priced like premium custom glasses.
Myopia control is not covered by OHIP. However, most private extended health insurance plans cover some portion under vision benefits — often including specialty contact lenses and annual eye exams. We direct bill most major Canadian insurance providers, and Health Spending Accounts can be used for any remaining balance.
For a full breakdown of costs in Ontario, see our complete comparison guide.
What Our Patients Say
Myopia Control for the Greater Toronto Area
Our single clinic in Markham sees myopia control patients from across the GTA. Choose the area closest to you for details on reaching us.
Myopia Control FAQs
What is myopia control?
Myopia control is a set of evidence-based treatments that slow the progression of nearsightedness in children and, in some cases, adults. The main options are ortho-k (overnight reshaping lenses), MiSight soft contact lenses, low-dose atropine eye drops, and specialty glasses such as Stellest or MiYOSMART. Each works differently, and your optometrist can help you choose the best fit.
At what age should myopia control start?
Myopia control is most effective when started early — ideally as soon as myopia first develops, typically between ages 6 and 12. Children as young as 4 or 5 can start with atropine drops. Contact lens options like ortho-k and MiSight are typically started around age 8 once the child can handle lens insertion. Adults with progressing myopia can also benefit.
How effective is myopia control?
Clinical research shows myopia control treatments slow progression by roughly 30 to 60 percent compared to regular glasses. Ortho-k and MiSight typically show 40 to 60 percent reduction. Low-dose atropine shows 30 to 50 percent depending on concentration. Specialty lenses like Stellest and MiYOSMART have shown 50 to 67 percent reduction in clinical trials.
Is myopia control worth it?
For most children with progressing myopia, yes. Higher myopia is associated with meaningfully elevated lifetime risk of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, and glaucoma. Every diopter of progression prevented reduces that risk. Myopia control is proactive care that aims to protect long-term eye health, not just keep glasses prescriptions thin.
Can myopia be reversed?
Myopia cannot be reversed. Once the eye has elongated, it does not shrink back. What myopia control does is slow further progression, limiting how much additional nearsightedness develops and how high the final prescription climbs.
Is myopia control covered by insurance in Canada?
OHIP does not cover myopia control treatments. However, most private extended health plans cover some portion through vision care benefits — often including specialty contact lenses and annual eye exams. Health Spending Accounts can also be used. We direct bill most major Canadian insurance providers.
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