How Effective Are Myopia Control Treatments? Comparing the Options for Children

Originally published: 21 May 2021
Last reviewed and updated: 30 September 2026

When a child's spectacle prescription becomes stronger year after year, parents naturally want to know whether anything can be done to slow the change.

The answer is yes. Today, several evidence-based approaches are available to help slow the progression of childhood myopia. These include orthokeratology (Ortho-K), myopia-control soft contact lenses, specialised myopia-control spectacle lenses and atropine eye drops.

However, comparing myopia-control treatments is not as simple as asking which one has the highest percentage effectiveness. Research results vary according to the child's age, prescription, rate of progression, treatment design, wear time, study population and how progression is measured.

Rather than looking for one treatment that is universally "best", the more useful question is:

Which evidence-based myopia-control option is most appropriate for this particular child, and how will we know whether it is working?

At EMME Visioncare, this is the approach we use when assessing children for myopia control in Singapore.

Myopia correction and myopia control are not the same thing

Ordinary spectacles and contact lenses can correct myopia by making distant objects clear. Myopia control has an additional goal: to slow the rate at which a child's myopia and eye growth progress over time.

This distinction matters because childhood myopia is often associated with elongation of the eye. As the eye becomes longer, the degree of myopia usually increases. Higher levels of myopia are also associated with a greater lifetime risk of myopia-related eye conditions.

The aim of myopia control is therefore not to "cure" or permanently reverse myopia. It is to reduce the amount of progression that may otherwise occur while the child's eyes are still growing.

How is the effectiveness of myopia control measured?

There are two important ways to monitor myopia progression.

1. Change in spectacle prescription

Refraction measures the optical prescription of the eye in dioptres. If a child's prescription changes from -1.00D to -2.00D, for example, their myopia has increased by one dioptre.

Tracking prescription changes remains important, but prescription alone does not tell us everything about how the eye is growing.

2. Change in axial length

Axial length is the distance from the front to the back of the eye. Because excessive elongation of the eye is closely associated with myopia progression, axial-length measurements can provide valuable additional information when monitoring a child's myopia.

At EMME Visioncare, axial length is measured as part of our childhood myopia assessment and monitored over time alongside prescription, age, progression history, eye health and other clinical findings.

You can read our detailed guide on what axial length is and why it matters in childhood myopia.

What are the main myopia-control options?

There are several established approaches to childhood myopia control. Each works differently and has different practical considerations.

How effective is Ortho-K for myopia control?

Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, uses individually fitted rigid contact lenses that are worn overnight. The lenses temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye so that, after removing them in the morning, suitable wearers can see clearly during the day without spectacles or daytime contact lenses.

In children, Ortho-K is also used as an optical myopia-control treatment. Clinical research has consistently found that orthokeratology can reduce axial elongation compared with conventional single-vision correction.

The degree of treatment response varies between children, so an individual child's progress should be monitored rather than assuming that a published average will apply to everyone.

Ortho-K may be particularly attractive for children who enjoy sport or prefer to be free from spectacles during the day. However, it requires good hygiene, responsible lens care and regular professional review because the lenses are worn overnight.

How effective are myopia-control soft contact lenses such as MiSight?

Myopia-control soft contact lenses look similar to ordinary soft contact lenses but incorporate specialised optical treatment zones designed to slow myopia progression while correcting distance vision.

One example is MiSight 1 Day, a daily disposable dual-focus contact lens specifically designed for childhood myopia control.

Long-term clinical studies of MiSight have demonstrated slower myopia progression and axial elongation compared with conventional single-vision contact lenses in the studied children. Longer-term follow-up has also provided evidence that the treatment benefit can be maintained over several years.

Daily disposable lenses have the practical advantage of using a fresh lens each day without cleaning or storage. However, children still need to be comfortable inserting and removing their lenses and must follow appropriate contact-lens hygiene.

How effective are myopia-control spectacle lenses?

Modern myopia-control spectacle lenses are very different from traditional single-vision glasses.

They correct the child's distance prescription while incorporating additional optical zones or lenslets designed to influence the visual signals associated with eye growth.

Several specialised spectacle designs now have clinical evidence supporting their ability to slow myopia progression and axial elongation compared with ordinary single-vision spectacles.

At EMME Visioncare, available options include:

• HOYA MiYOSMART, which uses D.I.M.S. optical technology.
• Essilor Stellest, which uses highly aspherical lenslet technology.
• ZEISS MyoCare, which uses ZEISS C.A.R.E. technology.

These options can be particularly practical for children or families who prefer spectacles rather than contact lenses.

Consistent wear matters. A specialised myopia-control lens cannot provide its intended treatment effect while sitting in the spectacle case, so the child's daily routine and willingness to wear the glasses are important considerations.

How effective are atropine eye drops?

Atropine has been studied extensively for childhood myopia control and is commonly used in Singapore.

Research has shown that atropine can slow myopia progression, with the treatment response and likelihood of side effects influenced partly by the concentration used.

Lower concentrations generally cause less pupil dilation, near-vision blur and glare than higher concentrations, although the appropriate dose should be determined by the prescribing doctor according to the child's individual response.

Atropine does not normally correct the child's blurred distance vision by itself. Children therefore continue to need spectacles or contact lenses for clear vision.

At EMME Visioncare, atropine treatment is co-managed with an ophthalmologist, who is responsible for prescribing and dispensing the medication. Our optometrists can continue to monitor the child's vision, prescription and myopia progression as part of the overall management plan.

So which myopia-control treatment is the most effective?

There is no single myopia-control treatment that is universally best for every child.

Clinical studies support several different treatment approaches, but comparing a percentage from one trial directly with a percentage from another can be misleading. Studies may involve children of different ages and ethnicities, different starting prescriptions, different treatment durations and different definitions of treatment success.

More importantly, the treatment with the strongest results in a research paper may not be the best real-world option if a child cannot use it consistently or safely.

For example, a child who is uncomfortable handling contact lenses may do better with a myopia-control spectacle lens. Another child who plays sport every day may value the daytime freedom provided by Ortho-K. A child whose myopia continues progressing despite an existing strategy may need the treatment plan reviewed.

This is why myopia management should be individualised rather than based on a simple ranking of products.

Can different myopia-control treatments be combined?

In some cases, clinicians may consider combining treatment approaches when progression remains greater than expected despite good adherence to an existing treatment.

Research has investigated combinations such as atropine together with orthokeratology, and studies have reported additional slowing of axial elongation in some children compared with Ortho-K alone.

Combination therapy is not automatically necessary for every child. The decision depends on progression, treatment response, age, eye health and the clinical judgement of the professionals managing the child.

How do we know whether myopia control is working?

Starting treatment is only the beginning. Myopia control should be reviewed over time.

During follow-up, we look at factors such as:

• changes in spectacle or contact-lens prescription;
• changes in axial length;
• the child's age and expected growth pattern;
• how consistently the treatment is being used;
• vision and comfort;
• eye health and contact-lens safety where relevant; and
• whether the rate of progression appears to be slowing, stable or greater than expected.

No single axial-length measurement or prescription number should be interpreted in isolation. What matters is the pattern of change over time and how it relates to the individual child.

What happens during a myopia assessment at EMME Visioncare?

Rather than starting by choosing a product, we begin by understanding the child.

A myopia assessment may include reviewing the child's current and previous prescriptions, age of myopia onset, family history, lifestyle, visual needs, eye health and previous rate of progression.

We also measure axial length for children undergoing myopia assessment. Depending on the EMME Visioncare location, measurements are performed using modern optical biometry systems including the Topcon MYAH or Essilor ARK SW9000.

These measurements give us a baseline that can be compared with future visits.

Once the assessment is complete, our optometrist can discuss appropriate options such as Ortho-K, MiSight daily disposable contact lenses, myopia-control spectacle lenses or medical co-management for atropine where indicated.

The objective is not simply to choose the treatment with the biggest number in a clinical study. It is to select an evidence-based strategy that is suitable for the child's eyes, progression risk, lifestyle and ability to use the treatment consistently.

Myopia control works best as an ongoing process

Myopia management is not a one-time prescription.

A child's eyes continue to develop, and their rate of progression can change as they grow. Treatment therefore needs regular monitoring, and the management strategy may need to be adjusted over time.

Parents should also remember that healthy visual habits remain important. Appropriate outdoor time, regular breaks from prolonged near work and sensible screen habits support overall eye health, but these lifestyle measures should not be considered substitutes for clinical myopia-control treatment when a child is already progressing.

Choosing the right myopia-control option for your child

Ortho-K, specialised soft contact lenses, myopia-control spectacle lenses and atropine all have evidence supporting their use in childhood myopia management.

The important question is not simply, "Which treatment is best?"

It is:

Which treatment is appropriate for my child, can they use it consistently, and are we measuring their progress properly?

If your child's prescription has been increasing, a detailed assessment can establish their current level of myopia, review their progression history and measure their eye growth before discussing suitable options.

Learn more about our childhood myopia control programme in Singapore, or contact EMME Visioncare to arrange a myopia assessment at The Cathay or Jelita Mall.

References and further reading

International Myopia Institute (IMI). IMI White Papers, Clinical Summaries and 2025 Digest covering current evidence and clinical guidance on myopia management.
International Myopia Institute – White Papers & Clinical Summaries

Lawrenson JG, Huntjens B, Virgili G, et al. Interventions for myopia control in children: a living systematic review and network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2025; Issue 2: CD014758.
Cochrane – Interventions to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children

Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). Myopia treatments available, including atropine, myopia-control spectacle lenses, soft contact lenses, orthokeratology and combination treatment.
Singapore National Eye Centre – Myopia Treatments Available

Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). Myopia Control Treatment information from the SNEC Myopia Centre.
Singapore National Eye Centre – Myopia Control Treatment

HealthHub Singapore. Atropine Eye Drop – uses, precautions and potential side effects, including use for slowing myopia progression in children and teenagers.
HealthHub Singapore – Atropine Eye Drop

This article provides general educational information and does not replace an individual eye examination or medical advice. Treatment suitability and response vary between children.