Myopia Control
in Ottawa
Myopia (nearsightedness) tends to get worse over time in children and can lead to serious eye conditions later in life. The good news is there are proven options to slow it down. We'll work with you and your child to find the right approach.
Three locations · 75,000+ patients served · Expert care since 1987
Overview
The Details:
Myopia Control
Myopia progression: what can we do?
Myopia is a common visual condition known as nearsightedness that prevents children from seeing clearly in the distance. Childhood myopia tends to get worse over time and may be associated with early onset cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal complications. There are many options to help prevent harmful eye conditions.
Without treatment, myopia can progress quickly and may lead to a higher risk of sight-threatening diseases.
Treating myopia progression.
We most often use:
- MiYOSmart glasses (60% reduction in progression, ages 6-18)
- MiSight/Abiliti soft contact lenses (59% reduction, worn at least 6 days a week for 12 hours per day).
Less commonly used are once-daily eye drops which have shown approximately 50% reduction in progression.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): See clearly without daytime lenses.
Ortho-K uses custom retainer lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while you sleep — so when you wake up, your vision is corrected without glasses or contacts. Beyond convenience, Ortho-K has shown meaningful results in slowing myopia progression in children and teens, making it one of the most effective tools we have for myopia control.
Treatment starts with a consultation to assess eligibility. Most patients reach approximately 90% correction within the first week. Ortho-K isn't right for everyone — your optometrist will help determine if it's a good fit.
Email us to book an Ortho-K consultation.
Monitoring treatment success.
We perform prescription checks and measure the length of the eye and the shape of the front of the eye twice a year. Our global myopia management service includes wide field retina scan (Optomap) twice a year, axial length measurement, and topography. Your doctor will review results and advise on the best treatment approach.
Screen time and your child's eyes.
The Canadian Guideline for screen time recommends no screen time 1 hour before bed and outdoor time minimum 1 hour per day. For children under 2 years old, screen time is not recommended (exception: video chatting with family). For children 2 to 5, limit routine screen time to about an hour or less per day.
Frequently asked questions about
Myopia Control
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common visual condition that prevents children from seeing clearly at a distance. Childhood myopia tends to get worse over time and may be associated with early onset cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal complications.
We most often use MiYOSmart glasses (60% reduction in progression, ages 6–18) and MiSight soft contact lenses (59% reduction, age and readiness based). Less commonly, we use once-daily eye drops which have shown approximately 50% reduction.
We perform prescription checks and measure the length and shape of the eye twice a year using Optomap, axial length measurement, and topography.
Meet the team behind your care
Our team across Vision Care Ottawa includes optometrists with specific expertise. When you book, we'll match you with the doctor who best fits your needs.
Your next step is clear
Book an appointment at any of our three Ottawa locations. Your eyes are in good hands.