Prescription tracking
We measure your child's prescription and compare it with previous exams. The pattern matters: a small change once may be monitored, while repeated increases can suggest progression.
Children's eye care / Myopia management
Myopia Management in Edmonton, St. Albert & Morinville
Slow the progression, not just the prescription.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, often begins in childhood and can progress as kids grow. At Capital Vision Care, myopia management is designed to help slow that progression with personalized monitoring, advanced measurements, and the latest treatment options, including myopia-control lenses such as MiYOSMART iQ, Essilor Stellest and ZEISS MyoCare, MiSight and Abiliti contact lenses, and atropine when appropriate.
- Personalized treatment plans
- Latest myopia-control lenses: MiYOSMART iQ, Stellest, ZEISS MyoCare
- Soft contact lenses: MiSight and Abiliti 1-Day
- Atropine therapy when appropriate
- Ongoing monitoring as your child grows
- Six Edmonton-area locations
- 60%average slower progression with MiYOSMART lenses (2-year trial)
- 59%less myopia progression with MiSight over 3 years
- 6Edmonton-area clinics
MiYOSMART: HOYA 2-year randomized trial. MiSight: CooperVision 3-year study. Individual results vary.
Why it matters
Myopia Is More Than Blurry Distance Vision
Many parents first notice myopia when their child squints at the board, sits closer to the TV, or needs a stronger glasses prescription every year. But myopia is not just about seeing clearly today.
In children, myopia often progresses because the eye is growing too long from front to back. As myopia increases, the lifetime risk of certain eye health problems can also increase. That is why modern myopia management focuses on slowing progression, not only correcting blur.
The College of Optometrists of Alberta's 2025 myopia management guideline describes myopia management as both prevention and control: educating families, identifying children at risk, and discussing options that may slow progression and reduce future eye-health risk.
In short
What Is Myopia Management?
Myopia management is specialized eye care for children whose nearsightedness is developing or getting worse. Instead of only prescribing stronger glasses each year, your optometrist monitors prescription changes, risk factors, visual habits, and axial length (eye growth), then recommends treatment options that may help slow myopia progression. These options may include myopia-control lenses, soft contact lenses such as MiSight, atropine therapy, lifestyle guidance, and regular follow-up visits.
When to book
Signs Your Child May Need Myopia Management
Book a myopia assessment if your child:
- Squints to see far away
- Sits close to the TV or classroom board
- Holds screens or books very close
- Says the board at school looks blurry
- Avoids sports or distance activities
- Complains of headaches or tired eyes
- Has frequent prescription changes
- Needs stronger glasses every year
- Has one or two nearsighted parents
- Spends long periods on screens or near work
- Spends limited time outdoors
- Was diagnosed with myopia at a young age
Testing and monitoring
Myopia Testing and Monitoring, Explained Simply
A myopia management visit looks at more than whether your child can see the letters on a chart. We want to understand how your child's eyes are changing and whether treatment may help slow that change.
Axial length measurement (Topcon MYAH)
Myopia progresses as the eye grows longer from front to back. We use a Topcon MYAH optical biometer to measure your child's axial length, so progression can be tracked precisely and objectively, not from prescription changes alone.
Progression tracking reports
We chart your child's axial length and prescription over time and compare them against expected growth. These reports show how the eyes are changing and help your optometrist decide whether to continue or adjust the plan at each visit.
Eye health assessment
Your optometrist checks the health of the front and back of the eyes and looks for concerns that may affect treatment choices.
Focusing and eye coordination checks
We assess how your child's eyes focus and work together, especially if they have headaches, eye strain, reading discomfort, or trouble with schoolwork.
Retinal imaging when appropriate
Retinal imaging can help document the health of the back of the eye and create a baseline for future comparison.
Lifestyle and risk-factor review
We ask about outdoor time, screen use, reading habits, school demands, family history, and how quickly your child's prescription has changed.
Testing depends on your child's age, symptoms, prescription, risk factors, and your optometrist's clinical judgment. Your clinic team can confirm which testing is recommended for your child.
The value of a plan
Why a Myopia Management Plan Matters
Regular glasses help your child see clearly, but standard single-vision glasses do not usually slow the eye growth that drives myopia progression. Myopia management is different because the goal is to reduce how much worse the prescription becomes over time. A personalized plan can help your optometrist:
For many families, the biggest benefit is having a proactive plan instead of waiting for the prescription to get stronger every year.
- Track prescription changes
- Monitor axial length with optical biometry
- Identify risk factors earlier
- Recommend treatment at the right time
- Support healthy visual habits
- Reduce the chance of very high prescriptions later
- Explain options clearly to parents
- Adjust the plan as your child grows
Treatment options
Myopia Management Options at Capital Vision Care
Every child is different. Select an option below to see how it works and who it suits. Most plans pair a primary treatment with outdoor time and regular monitoring.
Often recommended
MiYOSMART myopia-control lenses
MiYOSMART lenses look and feel like regular glasses but use a special D.I.M.S. design of hundreds of tiny treatment segments. In a two-year trial they slowed progression by about 60%, and follow-up studies show the effect holds over time. A strong, well-established everyday choice for children who are not ready for contact lenses.
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Now available here
MiYOSMART iQ, the newest-generation lens
The newest generation of MiYOSMART, now available at Capital Vision Care, where we are among the first Edmonton-area clinics to offer it. It looks just like a regular single-vision lens, with an upgraded design that strengthens and widens the treatment area. In Hoya's early clinical data, it controlled myopia progression even more effectively than the original MiYOSMART. We will walk you through the latest findings and whether it is right for your child.
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Often recommended
Essilor Stellest glasses
Myopia-control lenses that use Essilor's H.A.L.T. design, more than a thousand tiny lenslets arranged in rings around a clear centre, to create a gentle focus signal that helps slow eye growth. In a two-year trial, children who wore them consistently (about 12 hours a day) saw up to roughly 67% slower progression than with regular lenses, with vision as clear as standard glasses.
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Often recommended
ZEISS MyoCare or MyoCare S glasses
ZEISS myopia-control lenses with a ring-based design (called C.A.R.E.) that adds a gentle focus signal around a clear centre. In clinical studies they slowed progression by roughly half over one year compared with regular lenses, and most children adapt within a few days. Your optometrist chooses between MyoCare and MyoCare S based on your child's age and how quickly their myopia is changing.
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Often recommended
MiSight 1 day contact lenses
Daily disposable soft contact lenses designed for children with myopia. They correct distance vision while helping slow progression by about 59% over three years, and suit kids who are ready for the responsibility of daily lenses.
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Often recommended
ACUVUE Abiliti 1-Day contact lenses
A daily disposable soft contact lens designed specifically for childhood myopia, using ACUVUE's RingBoost design to help slow eye growth while correcting vision. In a three-year study, about 55% of children showed no clinically meaningful progression, and eye growth was reduced by about 0.31 mm on average compared with regular soft lenses. A fresh lens each day, suited to kids ready for daily lenses.
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Often recommended
Low-dose atropine, lifestyle and follow-up
Low-dose atropine drops may suit some children and are often combined with other options. Outdoor time and healthy visual habits support every plan, and regular follow-up lets your optometrist track progression and adjust as your child grows.
Book a Myopia Assessment| Myopia-control lensesMiYOSMART iQ, Stellest, MyoCare | Daily soft contactsMiSight, Abiliti 1-Day | Low-dose atropineEye drops | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Everyday glasses that also slow progression | Daily disposable soft contacts that also slow progression | Nightly low-dose eye drops |
| How it works | Tiny treatment zones around a clear centre create gentle myopic defocus | Treatment zones around a clear centre create gentle myopic defocus | May help slow eye growth, clinician-guided |
| Evidence | up to ~67% slower progression across brands (1 to 2 year trials) | ~59% MiSight over 3 years; Abiliti ~0.31 mm less eye growth | Varies by child; used in a monitored plan |
| Best for | Kids who prefer glasses or are not ready for contacts | Kids ready for daily lenses | Some children, often combined |
Glasses results depend on wearing them consistently each day. Every option works best alongside outdoor time, healthy visual habits and regular follow-up, and your optometrist recommends the right option for your child.
Timing
When Should Myopia Management Start?
Myopia management is usually worth discussing as soon as a child becomes nearsighted, especially if the prescription is changing quickly or myopia starts at a young age.
Children who become myopic earlier often have more years for progression to occur. Early detection gives your optometrist more opportunity to monitor changes, explain risk, and discuss treatment options.
The Alberta guideline emphasizes timely identification, diagnosis, treatment, and education for children at risk of developing myopia or already diagnosed with myopia.
Good to know
Quick Questions
Will regular glasses stop my child's myopia from getting worse?
No. Regular single-vision glasses help your child see clearly, but they do not usually slow the eye growth that drives myopia progression. Myopia management uses specific treatment options designed to help slow progression.
Is myopia management safe?
When prescribed and monitored by an optometrist, myopia management options are commonly used for children. The right option depends on your child's age, prescription, eye health, maturity, and comfort level.
How often will my child need follow-up visits?
Many myopia management plans include follow-up visits every 3 to 6 months, depending on your child's age, prescription changes, treatment type and risk level. That is more frequent monitoring than a routine annual exam.
Coverage and cost
Is Myopia Management Covered in Alberta?
Children and youth under 19 have partial Alberta Health coverage toward annual eye exams. Some services, specialized testing, contact lenses, myopia-control lenses, atropine therapy, or follow-up care may involve additional fees. The Alberta Association of Optometrists notes that optometrists may charge for insured services that exceed the AHCIP benefit and are required to discuss fees before providing those services.
Bring your child's Alberta Health Care card and any private insurance information to your visit. Our team can help explain what is covered, what may be billable, and what can be direct billed when eligible.
Where to go
Book a Myopia Assessment Near You
Capital Vision Care offers myopia management at six Edmonton-area clinics. Choose the location that works best for your family's schedule, school route, commute, or neighbourhood.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is when distant objects look blurry while close-up objects are clearer. In children, myopia often progresses as the eye grows longer than normal.
What is myopia management?
Myopia management is care designed to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. It may include specialized glasses, myopia-control contact lenses, atropine therapy, lifestyle guidance, and regular follow-up visits.
Is myopia management different from regular glasses?
Yes. Regular glasses correct blurry distance vision, but they do not usually slow myopia progression. Myopia management uses specific treatments designed to help reduce how quickly the prescription worsens.
How do I know if my child needs myopia management?
Your child may need a myopia assessment if they squint, struggle to see the board, sit close to screens, need stronger glasses every year, or have one or two nearsighted parents.
What age should my child start myopia management?
Myopia management can be discussed as soon as myopia is detected, especially if your child is young or their prescription is changing quickly. Your optometrist will assess whether treatment is appropriate.
Does MiSight work?
CooperVision reports that MiSight 1 day reduced myopia progression by 59% over three years compared with a single-vision daily lens in its clinical study. Your optometrist can explain whether MiSight is appropriate for your child.
Does MiYOSMART work?
HOYA summarizes research showing that MiYOSMART spectacle lenses slowed myopia progression by an average of 60% compared with single-vision lenses in a two-year randomized clinical trial. Your optometrist can explain whether MiYOSMART is a good fit for your child.
Is atropine used for myopia management?
Low-dose atropine may be recommended for some children. Your optometrist will explain whether it is appropriate, how it is used, and what monitoring is needed.
Can more outdoor time help my child's myopia?
Outdoor time may help delay the onset of myopia in children. The Canadian Association of Optometrists notes that studies have shown an hour of outdoor time each day may help delay myopia onset.
How do you measure whether my child's myopia is getting worse?
Alongside prescription changes, we use a Topcon MYAH optical biometer to measure axial length, the front-to-back length of the eye, which is what increases as myopia progresses. We chart these measurements over time so progression is tracked precisely and the plan can be adjusted as your child grows.
How often are myopia management follow-ups?
Many myopia management plans include follow-up visits roughly every 3 to 6 months, depending on the child's age, prescription changes, treatment type and clinical risk factors. That is more frequent than a routine annual exam so the optometrist can track changes and adjust the plan.
Can myopia be cured?
Myopia usually cannot be cured or reversed, but progression may be slowed. The goal is to help your child see clearly while reducing how much worse the prescription becomes over time.
Is myopia management covered by Alberta Health?
Annual children's eye exams have partial Alberta Health coverage until age 19, but specialized myopia management services, products, testing, or follow-up care may involve additional fees.
Explore more
Related Services
Sources
Sources and Further Reading
The evidence and guidance on this page draw on these sources:
Ready to Build a Myopia Plan for Your Child?
If your child's distance vision is getting blurrier or their prescription keeps getting stronger, do not wait for another year of progression. Book a myopia assessment at Capital Vision Care and get a clear plan for your child's vision.