CHILDREN'S MYOPIA CONTROL · SYDNEY
Which myopia treatment is right for your child?
Ortho-K, MiyoSmart and MiSight all slow short-sightedness by a similar amount. The right one comes down to your child — their age, their prescription, and what fits your family's routine.
Book a Myopia AssessmentReviewed by Dr Mark Joung · Last updated July 2026
THE SHORT ANSWER
There's no single best treatment
That last part matters more than parents expect. A treatment only works if it's used consistently, so the "best" option is usually the one that fits your child's life. Here are the three, side by side.
THREE WAYS WE SLOW MYOPIA
The options, side by side
Figures are from published research, not our own patient outcomes. There's no study comparing the three head-to-head, and every child is different — so results vary.
| Ortho-K | MiyoSmart iQ | MiSight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Overnight lenses gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps — temporary and reversible | Glasses with thousands of tiny treatment zones that signal the eye to slow down | Soft daily contacts with a built-in treatment zone |
| When worn | Overnight only — no daytime wear | All waking hours (12+ hrs/day) | Daytime, in and out like normal contacts |
| Who supports it | Insertion & removal at home, morning and night, with a parent's help — nothing to manage at school | Nothing to handle — just worn | Child manages lenses independently through the day |
| Best suited to | Families who'd rather the maintenance happen at home under a parent's eye, with no daytime upkeep | Kids who'll wear glasses happily, or aren't suited to contacts | Independent, active kids wanting a simple in-out routine |
| From age | No strict limit — often from around 6 | Any age | Around 8 |
| Prescription | −1.00 to −6.00, higher with specialty custom lenses | Wide range | Lower-to-moderate |
| Cost | From $1,600 (first 2 yrs) | iQ $690 + frames from $210 | $150 + $285/qtr |
| Research result | ~60% | ~60% | ~60% |
FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
Different families, different first choices
- Nothing to wear or look after during the school day
- Lenses go in and out at home, morning and night, with a parent's help
- Ideal where a parent wants to supervise the routine
- Needs a consistent 7–8 hours' sleep for overnight wear
- Not suited to — or not keen on — contact lenses
- Careful with their glasses, good with handling
- Wants the simplest option, nothing to insert
- Any age, including the youngest
- Happy wearing contacts independently through the day
- Active lifestyle — sport, swimming, no glasses to fog or break
- Old enough to handle lenses (around 8+)
- Comfortable with a daily disposable routine
A SIMPLE PATH
How we decide in clinic
Whichever path we take, we'll explain every step in plain language and review regularly to make sure it's working.
Not sure which fits your child?
That's exactly what a myopia assessment is for.
Book a Myopia AssessmentWHAT EACH OPTION COSTS
Clear pricing, per year
We measure whether it's actually working
We track your child's eye growth (axial length) at every review — the objective measure of whether treatment is doing its job, rather than waiting for the next prescription jump. How axial length monitoring works →
WHAT ABOUT EYE DROPS?
Where atropine fits in
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
Close enough that consistency wins
All three slow progression by a broadly similar amount in studies, and there's no head-to-head trial pitting them directly against each other — so no one option is clearly "the best." What the research can't capture is real life: these results assume the treatment is used consistently. That's why we lean towards whichever option your child will use reliably — day in, day out, consistency usually matters more than the number on a chart.
QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK MOST
The things worth asking
Which option is most effective?
They're close — research puts all three in a similar range with no head-to-head study. The most effective treatment is usually the one your child uses consistently.
At what age can my child start?
MiyoSmart suits any age. Ortho-K has no strict age limit and often starts from around 6 with parent-assisted handling. MiSight usually suits children from around 8.
Can treatments be combined?
Yes. When a child keeps progressing, we sometimes add low-dose atropine alongside glasses or lenses — it's been shown to slow eye growth more than Ortho-K alone in younger, lower-prescription children.
How do you know if it's working?
We measure your child's eye growth (axial length) at every review, tracking the actual change rather than waiting for the next prescription jump.
Is Ortho-K safe for children?
The straight answer: yes, when fitted and monitored properly and worn as directed. We'll talk you through care and what to watch for at the fitting.
Do atropine drops replace glasses?
No — atropine slows progression but doesn't correct vision, so your child still needs glasses or contacts for clear sight. That's why it's usually an add-on, not a stand-alone.
Further reading
Families travel from across Sydney for children's myopia control at Concord Eyecare in North Strathfield.
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