Soft Multifocal Lenses: A Gentle But Powerful Tool for Childhood Myopia

As more children spend time indoors and on digital devices, cases of myopia are on the rise. At Ridgeview Eye Care, we believe in proactive, evidence-based solutions to help protect your child’s vision and overall eye health. One effective option we offer is soft multifocal contact lenses.
 

What Is Myopia?

Myopia is a common refractive error where distant objects appear blurry while nearby objects remain clear. It occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Myopia typically begins in childhood and tends to progress as the eyes continue to grow.
 

Why Is Myopia Management Important?

While glasses or regular contact lenses can correct the blurry vision associated with myopia, they don’t address its progression. Without proper management, myopia can worsen over time, increasing a child’s risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life. These include:

• Retinal detachment

• Glaucoma

• Cataracts

• Myopic maculopathy

By slowing myopia progression in childhood, we can help reduce these long-term risks and support lifelong eye health.
 

How Do Soft Multifocal Lenses Work?

Soft multifocal contact lenses work to slow the progression of myopia by altering the way light is focused on the retina. These lenses feature multiple zones of focus within a single lens design. The central portion of the lens corrects the child’s distance vision, allowing for clear sight during everyday tasks like reading, writing, and classroom activities.

What sets these lenses apart is the peripheral defocus design. In a standard lens, peripheral light focuses behind the retina, which may signal the eye to grow longer. Soft multifocal lenses shift this peripheral focus in front of the retina instead. This change helps disrupt the signal that triggers abnormal eye growth, thereby slowing down the progression of myopia over time.

Research has consistently shown that this type of optical intervention can significantly reduce the rate of myopia advancement in children. By addressing both central clarity and peripheral focus, soft multifocal lenses offer a non-invasive and effective approach to myopia management.
 

Benefits of Soft Multifocal Lenses for Children

• Comfortable and Easy to Use: Made from soft, flexible materials, these lenses are designed for all-day comfort. Children often adapt quickly with proper instruction and support.

• Clear Vision All Day: Children can enjoy sharp vision without the need for glasses - ideal for sports, outdoor play, and classroom learning.

• Proven Results: Clinical studies have shown that soft multifocal lenses can reduce the rate of myopia progression by up to 50% in many cases.
 

Take the Next Step Toward Protecting Your Child’s Vision

Myopia is a progressive condition that can lead to serious eye health risks later in life. Soft multifocal lenses offer a safe, comfortable, and effective way to not only correct nearsightedness but also help slow its progression. With early intervention, you can give your child the best chance at maintaining healthy vision for the future.

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia or is showing signs of nearsightedness, schedule a pediatric eye exam at Ridgeview Eye Care to learn if soft multifocal lenses are the right solution. Contact our office in Olathe or Lenexa, Kansas, by calling (913) 261-8327 to book an appointment today.