The MiSight 1 Day disposable soft contact lens is available at Eyecare Concepts.
As a leading optometrist in myopia control in Melbourne, MiSight 1 Day is one of the treatment options we use in our comprehensive, tailored myopia control program for children and teenagers.
What is MiSight?
CooperVision MySight 1 Day is the world's first daily disposable myopia control soft contact lens, with breakthrough lens technology designed specifically to slow myopia progression in children.
How does MiSight work?
MiSight is not a standard soft contact lens. It is a special dual-focus lens, meaning it has alternating distance correction and treatment zones. The principles behind MiSight for myopia control are similar to orthokeratology (Ortho-K), in that it changes the peripheral optics at the front of the eye, thereby affecting the focusing of light in the peripheral parts of the retina and modulating the growth of the eyeball. The long-term effect is that eyeball elongation is reduced, which slows the myopia prescription change and lowers the risk of developing high myopia.
Who can use MiSight?
Any child or teenager who is short-sighted, particularly those who have shown yearly progression and identified at risk of further myopia progression and eye elongation. There is no minimum age for a child to be fitted with MiSight lenses, although younger children may need assistance from parents with daily lens insertion and removal. At present, MiSight lenses are available for prescriptions from -0.25 to -6.00D.
How effective is MiSight for myopia control?
A number of studies evaluating dual-focus lens designs like MiSight have found a significant reduction in myopia progression and eye elongation in children wearing dual-focus lenses compared to children who wore regular single vision contact lenses. A multi-country, three-year clinical evaluation of the MiSight lens worn by 144 children aged 8-12 years showed an effectiveness in slowing myopia progression by up to 59%.
MiSight 1 Day has been available for about 8 years in East Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, where the prevalence of childhood myopia is the highest in the world. Optometrists in these countries have reported positive and encouraging results fitting these lenses on myopic children, with similar effectiveness to Ortho-K in slowing myopia progression.
How does MiSight compare with orthokeratology?
Orthokeratology lenses are worn during sleep; MiSight is a daytime contact lens.
MiSight is only effective when the lens is worn, so we recommend a minimum wearing time of 6+ days per week, 10+ hours per day, for best myopia control. Ortho-K's reshaping effect on the cornea may last a day or two without lens wear, although the recommendation is to wear nightly where possible.
MiSight soft lenses have better initial comfort than Ortho-K rigid lenses, although patients do generally adapt well to wearing Ortho-K lenses over time.
As a 1 day disposable lens without the need for disinfection and cleaning, MiSight are potentially more hygienic and safer for younger kids to wear. A good level of hygiene and vigilance is still required, however, and MiSight lenses should not be worn if it may come into contact with water (eg. swimming). A child treated with Ortho-K has the advantage of clear vision during the day without lenses.
A pair of Ortho-K lenses last 1 year, require delicate care and has the potential to be lost or broken.
Ortho-K lenses can correct a mild amount of astigmatism, generally up to around -1.50D, while MiSight lenses cannot. MiSight can be prescribed for short-sight prescriptions as low as -0.25D, and Ortho-K from around -1.00D. The highest myopia correction available for MiSight is -6.00D; Ortho-K can correct higher levels of myopia depending on patient suitability.
At Eyecare Concepts, we believe MiSight and Ortho-K lenses are both excellent contact lens options for myopia control, and the choice between the two options may depend on age, maturity level, individual preferences and suitability. Following an initial assessment our optometrists will be able to advise you on your child's suitability for these lenses.