What Is Myopia (Nearsightedness)? Causes, Symptoms, and Myopia Control Lenses

What Is Myopia (Nearsightedness)?

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is one of the most common refractive errors of the eye. It occurs when light rays focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, causing near objects to appear clear while distant objects look blurred.

This usually results from an elongated eyeball or an excessively curved cornea, both of which alter the way light is focused and lead to distance-vision blur in children and adults.

People with myopia may find it difficult to see the television clearly, read road signs, or view the classroom board, and often need to move closer to see details more clearly.

Myopia is typically corrected with prescription eyeglasses or standard contact lenses. However, specialized myopia-control lenses are designed to help slow the progression of myopia in children and adolescents. Understanding the nature of myopia is therefore essential for choosing the most suitable visual correction and for protecting long-term eye health.

How Do Myopia Lenses Work?

Myopia lenses (short-sightedness lenses) work by redirecting incoming light so that it focuses directly on the retina instead of in front of it, which is the main reason people with myopia experience blurred distance vision.

Whether in the form of prescription spectacle lenses, myopia control contact lenses, or specialized lenses such as orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses, they use negative (concave) refractive power to reduce the eye’s overall focusing strength and sharpen distance vision.

In modern myopia-control lens designs, the central zone of the lens is optimized to provide clear vision, while additional optical powers are distributed in the peripheral zones. This helps modify the way images are formed on the peripheral retina, which has been shown to slow down myopia progression in children.

In this way, myopia lenses not only correct day-to-day vision, but also play an important role in long-term myopia management and in reducing the risk of associated ocular complications.

Who Can Benefit from Myopia Lenses?

Myopia control lenses are an excellent option for children and teenagers whose nearsightedness is progressing rapidly, especially when one or both parents are myopic.
They are also recommended for patients with myopia who spend long hours in front of digital screens or doing intensive near work such as reading, studying, or computer-based office tasks.

These lenses can be particularly beneficial for individuals who wish to slow the progression of myopia and protect their long-term eye health, rather than relying solely on conventional eyeglasses.

The ophthalmologist (or optometrist, depending on the case) will perform a comprehensive eye examination, measure the degree of myopia, and assess the patient’s lifestyle to determine whether myopia control lenses are the most suitable option.

These specialized lenses help manage the progression of nearsightedness, enhance visual clarity, and reduce the risk of future complications associated with high myopia, such as myopic maculopathy (degenerative retinal changes) or retinal detachment.

Available Types of Myopia Control Lenses

Today, several specialized myopia control lenses are available that are designed not only to correct blurred distance vision, but also to slow the progression of nearsightedness in both children and adults.

The main options include:

• Special-design daily soft myopia control lenses that help reduce the rate at which myopia worsens while providing clear vision throughout the day.

• Rigid gas-permeable lenses used for orthokeratology (ortho‑k), which are worn overnight to gently reshape the corneal surface. This temporary reshaping allows clear vision during the day without the need for glasses.

• Multifocal (multifocus) therapeutic contact lenses, which correct myopia and at the same time improve the eye’s ability to focus at different distances, contributing to better myopia management.

• Anti-reflective myopia lenses with ultraviolet (UV) filtration, which enhance visual clarity and contrast while protecting the eyes from harmful UV radiation.

The ophthalmologist or optometrist selects the most appropriate type of myopia lens based on the patient’s age, degree of myopia, and lifestyle, aiming to achieve the best possible balance between visual acuity, comfort, and effective control of myopia progression.

Tips from Batal Vision Experts for People with Myopia

If you have myopia (short-sightedness) and use myopia-control contact lenses, Batal Vision experts offer a set of recommendations to help protect your eyesight and improve how effectively the lenses slow the progression of your condition.

First, make sure you wear your myopia lenses only for the duration recommended by your ophthalmologist, and avoid sleeping in them unless they are specifically designed for overnight use. Incorrect wear can increase the risk of dry eyes and corneal irritation.

Always clean your myopia lenses with a sterile, lens-specific solution, and avoid using tap water or saliva to reduce the risk of eye infections.

Give your eyes regular breaks from digital screens by looking at a distant point every 20 minutes. This simple habit can help relieve eye strain associated with myopia.

Have your eyes examined regularly, as your myopia lens prescription may need periodic adjustment to match any changes in the degree of short-sightedness.

Finally, don’t overlook the importance of good lighting while reading or studying, and make sure your diet includes plenty of omega‑3 fatty acids and eye-healthy vitamins. This supports the long-term protective effect of myopia-control lenses on your vision.