Myopia Control in Montréal

Myopia, or nearsightedness, means distant objects look blurry while near ones stay clear. It usually starts in childhood and gets stronger every year while the eye is still growing. Myopia control is a set of treatments designed to slow that progression, so that a child ends up with a lower prescription as an adult. At PrimeVision we fit the two best known myopia control spectacle lenses: MiyoSmart and Stellest.

Why slowing myopia matters

A stronger prescription means thicker lenses and more dependence on glasses, but that is not the main concern. Myopia happens because the eye grows too long, and a longer eye is more fragile. High myopia is linked to a greater risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular disease later in life. Every diopter of progression avoided lowers that risk. Regular glasses and regular contact lenses correct the blur, but they do nothing to slow the eye's growth.

Which children are most at risk

  • Children who become nearsighted young, before about age 10
  • Children with one or two nearsighted parents
  • Children whose prescription changes by half a diopter or more in a year
  • Children who spend a lot of time on close work and little time outdoors

Myopia control lenses we fit

MiyoSmart, by Hoya

MiyoSmart lenses look like ordinary glasses. The centre of the lens gives clear vision, and the area around it is covered with hundreds of tiny lens segments that change how light focuses in the peripheral retina, which is the signal that tells the eye to keep growing. In a two-year clinical study, children wearing MiyoSmart showed on average about 60% less myopia progression than children wearing regular single vision lenses. MiyoSmart is also available in a photochromic version that darkens outdoors.

Stellest, by Essilor

Stellest lenses work on a similar principle, with a constellation of small lenslets arranged in rings around a clear central zone. In a two-year clinical study, children who wore Stellest lenses at least 12 hours a day showed on average about 67% less myopia progression than children wearing regular single vision lenses.

Results vary from one child to another, and no treatment stops myopia completely or reverses it. Both lenses work best when they are worn all day, every day. Your optometrist will recommend the option that suits your child's prescription, age and habits.

How myopia control works at PrimeVision

  1. A complete eye exam. We measure your child's prescription and examine the health of the eyes. For children under 18 the exam is covered by RAMQ once a year.
  2. A recommendation. If your child is nearsighted and progressing, we explain the options and what to expect.
  3. Fitting. Myopia control lenses must sit precisely in front of the eye, so we take careful measurements and fit the frame to your child's face.
  4. Follow-up. We recheck the prescription at regular intervals to confirm the treatment is working, and adjust if needed.

Habits that help

Research consistently shows that time outdoors protects against the onset of myopia. We recommend about two hours a day outside, regular breaks from screens and close work, and keeping books and devices at a comfortable distance rather than close to the face.

Frequently asked questions

Are myopia control lenses covered by RAMQ?

RAMQ covers the yearly eye exam for children under 18 and offers a reimbursement toward glasses bought for a child under 18. The lenses themselves are paid by the family or by private insurance. We bill most major insurers directly.

Do the lenses look different?

No. Both MiyoSmart and Stellest look like normal lenses, and children usually adapt to them within a few days.

At what age should we start?

As soon as myopia is confirmed and progressing. The younger the child, the faster myopia tends to progress, so early treatment has the most to gain.

Book a myopia assessment

Book an eye exam online or call 514-827-7463. PrimeVision is at 9520 Bd de l'Acadie, Suite 222, Montréal. See also: children's eye exams.