What Kind of Lens Corrects Myopia?

People with myopia (nearsightedness) wear concave lenses in their glasses: lenses that are thicker at the edges than in the middle. These lenses have a minus (-) power and spread incoming light slightly, so that the image falls on the retina rather than in front of it. Besides glasses, there are contact lenses, overnight lenses (orthokeratology) and implantable lenses; which option suits you depends on your prescription, your age and the structure of your eyes, and is decided by your eye doctor.

With myopia, distant objects are hard to make out, which can lead to blurred vision, eye strain and headaches. How people with myopia see is covered in a separate article; here we focus on the types of lenses that correct it.

Option	Lens type	Suitable for	Note
Glasses	Concave, minus power	All ages	If you also have astigmatism, a cylinder value is added to the lens
Contact lenses	Minus-power soft or rigid gas permeable lenses	People who can wear lenses and follow hygiene rules	Good lens hygiene is essential
Overnight lenses (orthokeratology)	Special rigid lens worn at night	Mostly children whose myopia is progressing	Requires regular follow-up
Phakic implantable lens (EVO ICL)	Lens added in front of the natural lens	Adults with a healthy natural lens whose prescription is too high or cornea too thin for laser	The natural lens stays in place
Refractive lens exchange	Monofocal, toric or multifocal artificial lens	Usually considered over the age of 45	The natural lens is removed

What Kind of Lens Is Used in Glasses for Myopia?

Glasses for myopia use concave lenses that are thick at the edges and thin in the centre. They spread light slightly so that the image lands on the retina. The same correction can also be achieved with contact lenses instead of glasses.

Single vision (monofocal) lenses let a myopic eye see clearly in the distance, but they do not stop myopia from progressing. Your eye doctor can assess separately whether options to slow progression are suitable for a child.

The higher the prescription, the thicker the edges of a concave lens become. For high prescriptions, high-index (thinned) lenses that look slimmer and lighter may be preferred. Convex (plus-power) lenses, by contrast, are used for hyperopia (farsightedness); you can read more in our article on the lenses used for hyperopia.

Which Contact Lenses Are Used for Myopia?

Myopia can also be corrected with minus-power soft or rigid gas permeable contact lenses. Soft lenses are a comfortable starting point for most people, while rigid gas permeable lenses may give sharper vision in some cases, for example with significant astigmatism. The lens type, power and daily wearing time are set after an eye examination.

If you wear contact lenses, always handle them with clean hands, do not wear them longer than recommended and do not sleep in them. Our article on types of contact lenses explains the options in more detail.

Lenses and Methods That Slow Myopia Progression

Several methods are used to slow the progression of myopia in childhood and adolescence, but none of them prevents or stops it completely. Depending on your child's age and how quickly the prescription is increasing, the eye doctor may consider:

• Orthokeratology (overnight lenses): special rigid lenses worn at night temporarily reshape the cornea, allow clear vision without lenses during the day and can be used to slow progression in children.
• Low-dose atropine eye drops: used under medical supervision to slow the progression of myopia in children.
• Specially designed myopia control spectacle lenses and contact lenses: may be an option for some children; suitability is decided at the examination.
• Daylight: time spent outdoors supports eye health in children.

Long periods of close-up focus and little time outdoors are factors associated with the development of myopia in children. That is why regular breaks from near work and spending part of the day outdoors are recommended.

Children do not always notice, or mention, that distant objects look blurred. Parents should therefore stay attentive and take their children for regular eye examinations.

Which Lens Is Used in Myopia Surgery?

There are two options with implantable lenses. With a phakic implantable lens (for example EVO ICL), the eye's own lens stays in place and the artificial lens is added to it; this is usually considered for younger adults with a healthy natural lens who are not suitable for laser. With refractive lens exchange, the eye's own lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one; this mostly comes into question over the age of 45, when near vision also starts to be affected.

If myopia comes with astigmatism, a toric lens is chosen. If near, intermediate and distance vision all need correcting, multifocal or trifocal lenses are considered.

Laser or Implantable Lens?

Laser eye surgery does not touch the lens of the eye; the treatment works by reshaping the cornea. Laser treatment can be considered from the age of 18; over 45, lens options are also assessed. For high prescriptions, laser reduces the need for glasses.

The decision is made at the examination, based on your prescription, the thickness and shape of your cornea, your age and whether your prescription has been stable in recent years. If the prescription is too high for laser or the cornea is not thick enough, implantable lens options come to the fore.

Myopia in Brief

Myopia is a refractive error in which light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina, so distant objects look blurred. It is usually caused by an eyeball that is longer than normal or a cornea that is too steeply curved. People with myopia see near objects clearly and distant ones blurred. Our article on the causes and symptoms of myopia goes into more detail.

Common symptoms of myopia include:

• Headaches and eye strain
• Blurred vision for distant text and objects
• Poorer vision at night
• Holding books or phones closer than usual

Children with myopia may complain that they cannot see the board at school. They may squint, tilt their head, struggle with reading and writing, or sit very close to the TV or tablet. If you notice an eye turning or double vision in your child, this may have a cause other than myopia, and an eye examination is needed.

High myopia can increase the risk of retinal tears and detachment, glaucoma and cataract, so regular eye examinations are important. If you notice sudden flashes of light, floaters or a curtain coming down over part of your vision, see an eye doctor without delay.