Ortho-K vs Myopia Control Glasses vs Soft Contact Lenses
If your child is short-sighted (myopic), there are now several ways to slow how fast the myopia goes up. On this page we compare the three main types: Ortho-K, myopia control spectacle lenses and myopia control soft contact lenses. None of them cures myopia, but each type has been shown in clinical studies to slow it down compared with ordinary glasses or contact lenses.
| Option | Ortho-K | Myopia control spectacle lenses | Myopia control soft contact lenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Rigid contact lens worn while sleeping | Special spectacle lenses in your child's glasses | Soft contact lenses, usually a fresh pair each day |
| When it is worn | Overnight, taken out in the morning | All day, every day (at least 12 hours a day works best) | During the day, most days of the week |
| Glasses during the day? | Usually not needed | Yes, these are the glasses | Not needed while wearing the lenses |
| Main study results | 43% slower eye growth over 2 years | About 50 to 60% slower myopia increase and eye growth over 2 years | 59% slower myopia increase and 52% slower eye growth over 3 years |
| Ages in the main studies | 6 to 10 years | 8 to 13 years | 8 to 12 years |
| Often suits | Active children, swimmers, children who prefer no glasses in the day | Children new to myopia control, or not ready for contact lenses | Children who play sport and can manage daily lenses |
| Things to consider | Nightly lens care with a parent's help, unless the child can self-manage; regular check-ups | Must be worn full-time to work well; a short getting-used-to period | Child needs to put lenses in and take them out; not suitable for prescriptions with astigmatism |
The percentages come from the main published studies for each type, compared with ordinary single vision glasses or contact lenses. The studies were done with different groups of children, so the numbers cannot be compared directly with each other. "Eye growth" means the increase in axial length, the length of the eye.
The three types in short
Ortho-K
Special rigid lenses worn while your child sleeps gently reshape the front of the eye. In the morning the lenses come out and your child sees clearly without glasses or contact lenses for the day.
Myopia control spectacle lenses
Glasses lenses with a clear centre for sharp vision, surrounded by many tiny lens zones. These zones send a signal that helps slow how fast the eye grows longer. They work best when worn all day.
Myopia control soft contact lenses
Soft contact lenses worn during the day. The centre corrects vision, and rings or zones around it help slow eye growth. Most are daily disposable, so there is no cleaning.
How we help you choose
The right option depends on your child, not just on the numbers. At a children's myopia assessment, our optometrist looks at:
- Your child's age and prescription, including any astigmatism
- How fast the myopia and the axial length are increasing
- Daily routine, school, sport and swimming
- Whether your child is ready to handle contact lenses, with your help
- What your child is happy to wear every day, because the option that is worn consistently works best
Within each type there are different lens designs. We will explain which designs suit your child and why.
Whichever option you choose, everyday habits still matter: about 2 hours outdoors a day, regular breaks from screens and homework, and keeping glasses up to date.
Read more: Why axial length matters · Myopia control for children
Questions parents ask
Swipe or use the dots to see more questions in each topic.
Results 5 questions
Will myopia control stop my child's myopia completely?
No. It slows myopia down but does not stop it. Most children still go up a little each year, just less than they would with ordinary glasses or contact lenses.
How soon will we know if it's working?
We usually compare the prescription and eye length (axial length) after 6 months, and get a clearer picture after a year. Eye growth is slow, so it takes some time to measure.
How do you know if it is working?
We measure your child's prescription and axial length at regular check-ups and compare them with what is typical for your child's age. Axial length shows changes earlier and more precisely than the prescription alone.
What happens when we stop?
Some studies found that myopia can go up a little faster for a while after stopping. We usually continue until the late teens, when myopia naturally slows down, and plan the stop carefully with you.
Is it worth starting if my child's myopia is still low?
Often, yes. Younger children with low myopia usually progress the fastest, so starting early can make the biggest difference by the teenage years.
Daily life 6 questions
Does Ortho-K hurt?
No. Most children feel the lens for the first few nights, and this settles within a week or two. Many children learn to put the lenses in themselves after a short while, with a parent checking.
Can my child still wear their glasses during the first few days of Ortho-K?
Usually not, because their usual glasses become too strong once Ortho-K starts working. Instead, we usually prepare some soft contact lenses in decreasing prescriptions, to help your child see clearly during the day until Ortho-K fully corrects their myopia. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.
What if my child forgets to wear Ortho-K for a night?
Vision may be slightly blurry the next day. Missing a night now and then is fine, but wearing the lenses every night gives the best results.
Will myopia control glasses look different or feel strange?
They look like normal glasses. Some children notice slightly softer vision when looking through the edge of the lens, and most get used to it within a few days.
Can my child swim or play sport?
With Ortho-K, nothing is worn during the day, so sport and swimming are easy. With myopia control glasses, take the glasses off for swimming. With soft contact lenses, we do not recommend swimming with the lenses on at all, because of the risk of eye infection. Take them out before swimming.
What about screens and homework?
Myopia control helps, but daily habits still matter: regular breaks from close work, and about 2 hours outdoors a day.
Is it right for my child? 5 questions
At what age can my child start?
The main studies included children from about 6 to 13 years old. Myopia tends to increase fastest in younger children, so it is worth having your child assessed as soon as myopia is found. The two contact lens options also depend on whether your child, with your help, can handle lenses safely.
My child has astigmatism. Can they still have myopia control?
Usually, yes. Myopia control spectacle lenses can include astigmatism, and Ortho-K can be fitted with toric designs to treat astigmatism. Soft myopia control contact lenses are not suitable for prescriptions with astigmatism.
Is Ortho-K safe for children?
Ortho-K is widely used for children when lenses are fitted carefully and cleaned properly every day. The main risk is eye infection, which is uncommon but more likely if lens care is skipped. Regular check-ups are part of the treatment.
Can myopia control be combined with eye drops?
Low-dose atropine eye drops are prescribed by ophthalmologists, and some children use them together with myopia control lenses. We can work with your child's ophthalmologist if needed.
Do we need to come back for many visits?
There are a few visits at the start. After that, check-ups are usually every 3 to 6 months, when we measure the prescription and eye length.
Choosing 2 questions
Which type of myopia control works best?
There is no single best option for every child. In their main studies, all three types slowed eye growth by roughly 40 to 60 percent compared with ordinary glasses or contact lenses, but those studies used different children, so the numbers cannot be compared head to head. The option your child will wear consistently, and that suits their eyes and daily routine, is usually the one that works best.
Can my child switch from one option to another?
Yes. Some children start with myopia control spectacle lenses and move to contact lenses when they are older, or the other way round. We review how fast the eyes are growing at each check-up and talk with you if a change would help.
Still have a question? Ask us on WhatsApp and our optometrists will reply.
Sources
- Ortho-K: Cho P, Cheung SW. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2012;53(11):7077-85. 2-year randomised clinical trial. doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-10565
- Myopia control spectacle lenses: Lam CSY et al. Br J Ophthalmol 2020;104(3):363-8. 2-year randomised clinical trial (52% slower myopia increase, 62% slower eye growth). bjo.bmj.com/content/104/3/363
- Myopia control spectacle lenses: Bao J et al. JAMA Ophthalmol 2022. 2-year randomised clinical trial (55% slower myopia increase, 50% slower eye growth; 67% and 60% when worn at least 12 hours a day).
- Myopia control soft contact lenses: Chamberlain P et al. Optom Vis Sci 2019;96(8):556-67. 3-year randomised clinical trial. doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000001410
Not sure which option suits your child? Book a children's myopia assessment and our optometrists will talk you through the choices.