If your child squints at the whiteboard or you find yourself moving your phone closer to read text, myopia might be affecting your family’s daily life. This common vision condition makes distant objects appear blurry while close-up vision typically stays clear. Our team at St. Marys Optometry helps families understand their vision correction options and find options that work for their lifestyle.
Contact lenses work by properly redirecting light onto your retina, correcting blurry distance vision, while specialized myopia-control lenses help slow progression in growing children. Through contact lens exams and fittings, you can explore whether contacts are right for your family’s needs.
What Happens When You Have Myopia?
Your eye works like a camera, focusing light onto the retina at the back of your eye. When you have myopia, your eyeball grows slightly longer than normal, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
This focusing error makes distant objects look blurry while things up close typically remain sharp. You might notice your child holding books closer to their face or struggling to see the TV from across the room.
Myopia often gets worse over time, especially during childhood and teenage years when eyes are still growing. Without proper management, prescriptions can continue to strengthen, often requiring thicker glasses or stronger contacts each year.
How Contact Lenses Correct Your Vision
Basic Vision Correction
Contact lenses sit directly on your eye and move with your natural eye movements. This positioning allows the lens to redirect light rays so they focus exactly where they should—right on your retina.
Unlike glasses, which sit about 12 millimetres from your eyes, contacts eliminate the gap between the corrective lens and your eye. This creates a wider field of clear vision without the frame restrictions you may experience with glasses.
Different Lens Types Available
Daily disposable lenses give you fresh, clean contacts every morning. You simply throw them away at bedtime, eliminating the need for cleaning solutions or storage cases.
Monthly replacement lenses offer a cost-effective option for regular wear. These lenses require proper cleaning and storage each night but provide consistent vision correction throughout the month.
Specialty myopia control lenses combine vision correction with progressive slowing technology. These specialized designs help manage myopia progression while keeping vision clear during daily activities.
Special Lenses That Slow Myopia Progression
MiSight® 1 Day Contact Lenses
MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are specifically designed to help slow the progression of myopia in children. These daily disposable lenses not only correct vision but also use a specialized optical design to help manage how the eye grows over time.
The lens features concentric treatment zones that create controlled peripheral defocus, which sends signals to the eye to help reduce excessive elongation—a key factor in worsening nearsightedness.
Children can enjoy clear, comfortable vision for school, sports, and everyday activities, while actively supporting long-term eye health. MiSight lenses are Health Canada–approved for myopia control, making them a trusted and evidence-based option for managing childhood myopia progression.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
Myopia control is most effective during the active growth years, typically ages 6–18. Your child would wear the contacts daily during waking hours for consistent treatment benefits.
The eye doctor monitors progress through regular appointments every 3–6 months. These visits track prescription changes, eye health, and lens fit to make sure treatment stays on track.
Treatment continues until eye growth stabilizes, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Starting earlier often facilitates long-term results for preventing high myopia complications. Professional myopia control services provide comprehensive management throughout your child’s development.
What to Expect During Your Contact Lens Journey
Your contact lens journey begins with a thorough eye exam to measure your exact prescription and eye shape. Your eye doctor evaluates your tear film, corneal health, and lifestyle to recommend the right lens type.
During your fitting appointment, you’ll learn proper insertion, removal, and care techniques. The team makes sure you feel confident handling your lenses before taking them home.
New contact wearers often start with shorter wearing times, gradually increasing hours over the first week. This helps your eyes adjust comfortably to having lenses on the surface.
Ongoing Care and Safety
Following your replacement schedule protects your eye health and maintains clear vision. Daily lenses get discarded each evening, while monthly lenses need proper cleaning and fresh solution nightly.
Good hygiene habits include washing your hands before touching lenses and avoiding water contact while wearing them. Clean hands prevent bacteria from transferring to your eyes.
Watch for warning signs like redness, discomfort, or sudden vision changes. Remove your lenses immediately if you experience discomfort and contact your eye care provider for guidance.
Finding the Right Contact Solution for Your Family
Contact lens options exist for various ages and needs, from school-age children starting myopia control to adults wanting freedom from glasses.
Professional fitting and ongoing support help make contact lens wear safe and successful. Your eye care team provides training, troubleshooting, and regular monitoring to keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy.
Regular check-ups allow your eye doctor to adjust prescriptions as needed and catch any changes early. This ongoing relationship helps protect your family’s long-term eye health while managing myopia effectively.
Contact lenses open up new possibilities for clear vision and active lifestyles. If you’re considering contact lenses for vision correction or myopia control, our experienced team at St. Marys Optometry can help you find the right solution for your family’s needs. Schedule an appointment to explore your contact lens options today.
