What Is Myopia (nearsightedness)?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is one of the most common vision problems seen in children today. Children with myopia can see up close but have difficulty seeing far away, often needing glasses to read the board at school or see distant objects clearly. Myopia is becoming more common worldwide, including right here in Orange County.

Why Myopia Management Matters

Many families think of myopia as simply needing stronger glasses each year. But as myopia worsens, the risks become more serious. Higher levels of myopia increase the chance of developing eye diseases later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and even permanent retinal damage. That’s why myopia management, actively slowing down the progression of nearsightedness, is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your child’s vision for years to come.

We offer modern, science-backed options to control myopia. Multifocal soft contact lenses for myopia management are changing the way we care for young eyes. These lenses don’t just correct vision, they help slow down the progression of myopia, giving children freedom from glasses and supporting their lifelong eye health.

What Makes Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses Different?

Multifocal soft contact lenses do more than sharpen vision. They help slow the eye’s growth as your child gets older. That’s important, because too much growth leads to higher prescriptions and more risk later on.

These lenses use special optics to create a soft, out-of-focus pattern on the edges of the retina. This “myopic defocus” signals the eye to slow its growth. Research shows this slows down myopia over time. This approach is supported by years of studies and is now a main option for children with progressive myopia.

At our clinic, we fit and monitor three kinds of soft contact lenses for myopia control: MiSight 1 day, NaturalVue Multifocal, and SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal. Each one works well for different children and families.

Custom Soft Contact Lenses We Offer

MiSight Contact Lenses

In a 3-year study with children aged 8-12, MiSight lenses slowed down nearsightedness by about 59%.
They also slowed the eye from getting longer by 52%, which helps control worsening vision.
A 6-year follow-up showed MiSight continued to work well, with a total myopia reduction of 71% in the later years.
When kids stopped wearing MiSight, their nearsightedness did not suddenly get worse.

NaturalVue Multifocal Contact Lenses

In a study with nearly 200 kids and young adults, NaturalVue lenses slowed nearsightedness by about 85% over time.
91% of those wearing NaturalVue had slower vision worsening compared to before using the lenses.
79% showed very good improvement, reducing nearsightedness progression by at least 70%.
Some kids even experienced a small improvement in their vision.
The lenses also helped slow down the eye from growing longer, reducing risk of worse vision.

MiSight® 1 day: The First FDA-Approved Myopia Control Soft Lens

MiSight 1 day by CooperVision is the first and only soft contact lens for myopia control approved by the FDA. This lens has become a popular choice for parents seeking a well-studied, easy-to-use solution for children ages 8 to 12, especially in the early years of myopia diagnosis.

How MiSight Works

MiSight uses a dual-focus design, with alternating rings built into each lens, some rings for clear distance vision, others to create the defocus pattern that slows the eye’s growth. Your child sees sharply through the correction zones while the surrounding treatment zones project focused light slightly in front of the retina. This gentle “halo” effect is what helps slow down the lengthening of the eye, reducing the rate at which myopia gets worse.

Why Parents Choose MiSight

MiSight lenses are worn during the day and thrown away at night, no cleaning or disinfecting needed, making them one of the safest and most convenient options for children. In a large 3-year clinical study, kids wearing MiSight had 59% less myopia progression and 52% less eye growth compared to those wearing regular single-vision lenses. Even after six years of wear, children continued to see the benefits without a rebound effect after stopping the lenses. This means MiSight doesn’t just delay myopia, but can actually keep your child at a lower prescription for the long run.

Who Can Wear MiSight?

MiSight is designed for children who are just starting to develop myopia, typically with prescriptions between -0.75 and -4.00 diopters, but it can be prescribed for higher prescriptions (up to about -6.00 diopters) based on availability and your doctor’s assessment. Children as young as 8, or sometimes younger with extra guidance, can learn to use MiSight with the right training and support from our team.

NaturalVue® Multifocal: Expanded Range and Unique Optics

NaturalVue Multifocal by Visioneering Technologies is another powerful tool in our approach to myopia management. This daily disposable lens was first created for adults with reading vision issues but was quickly found to be highly effective at slowing myopia progression in children. While not FDA-approved for myopia management (it is an “off-label” use), NaturalVue has a growing body of clinical and real-world evidence supporting its use.

How NaturalVue Works

NaturalVue is built with an extended depth-of-focus design, creating a gentle, continuous change in lens power from the center outwards. This means the lens always projects a strong plus (focusing power) towards the edge of the vision, placing peripheral light in front of the retina and telling the eye to slow down its growth. Unlike other lenses that use distinct rings, NaturalVue’s aspheric profile creates a seamless “virtual pinhole effect,” maximizing the treatment effect while still offering clear vision for daily life.

Why Parents Choose NaturalVue

One of the biggest advantages of NaturalVue is its broad prescription range, it can be used for children with myopia up to -12.25 diopters, so even kids with more advanced prescriptions have a safe, effective option. Real-world studies from eye doctors have shown that children wearing NaturalVue experience a major slowdown, or even a pause, in myopia progression. Several independent studies have reported a dramatic drop in the yearly increase of prescriptions, with some children showing no significant worsening over a full year of wear.

Who Can Wear NaturalVue?

NaturalVue lenses are suitable for a wide variety of children, including those whose prescriptions are too high for MiSight or those with some astigmatism (up to about 2 diopters) that can be “masked” by the lens’s design. The lens is inserted each morning and thrown away at night, with no cleaning required, helping families stay on top of hygiene and making daily routines easier.

SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal: Personalized Solutions for Unique Eyes

Not every child’s eyes fit neatly into the parameters of standard lenses. For children with very high myopia, significant astigmatism, or unique eye shapes, we offer SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal lenses. These are custom-crafted soft contacts made to order for each individual child.

How SpecialEyes Works

SpecialEyes lenses are created based on your child’s exact eye measurements, prescription, and visual needs. Unlike mass-produced options, these lenses can be made for nearly any prescription (up to ±25.00 diopters and -8.00 diopters of astigmatism) and customized in terms of lens diameter, curvature, and optical profile. For myopia control, we design a distance-center multifocal lens with a high “add” power in the periphery, creating a strong myopic defocus effect similar to the mechanism in MiSight and NaturalVue. If needed, the lens can be further adjusted to reduce ghosting, improve comfort, or optimize for your child’s pupil size. For those with significant astigmatism, a toric multifocal version can be prescribed.

Why Parents Choose SpecialEyes

SpecialEyes is often the best choice for children whose eyes fall outside the range of standard daily disposables, especially those with complex prescriptions or high astigmatism. Because these lenses are made just for your child, they can address unique fit or comfort issues and maximize the treatment effect. The ability to adjust every aspect of the lens allows our doctors to fine-tune vision and myopia control, providing a truly individualized approach.

How SpecialEyes Are Worn

SpecialEyes lenses are worn during the day and removed each night for cleaning, then reused for up to three months before replacement. This means daily hygiene is very important, and our team will teach both parents and children how to handle, clean, and store the lenses safely. While the process takes a bit more care than daily disposables, many families find it very manageable with support from our office.

The Highest Rated Eye Care Center In Orange County

What Our Patients are Saying

“Insight vision has great customer service staff n the best optometrist Ive ever seen
Dr Nathan Schramm spends as much time as needed n has the highest advanced technology. I highly recommend this practice for anyone with any vision problem.”

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Nancy B.

“Best optometrist I have ever visited. They are experts with my eye condition (keratoconus) all staff super friendly. And dr Schramm is very professional and passionate to get you the best vision possible. I absolutely recommend insight vision center optometry.”

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Emmanuel B.

Comparing Your Options: MiSight, NaturalVue, and SpecialEyes

Choosing the right myopia control contact lens depends on your child’s age, prescription, lifestyle, and even their comfort with lens care routines. Each option brings unique benefits for different needs.

MiSight 1 day: A Well-Studied Daily Disposable

MiSight 1 day is a daily disposable lens and the only soft contact lens with FDA approval for myopia control in children. Backed by years of long-term studies, MiSight is an excellent choice for children between ages 8 and 12 who are just starting to develop myopia and are within the lens’s prescription range. Many families appreciate MiSight for its safety, easy daily routine, and the reassurance that comes from a lens with a strong track record in clinical research.

NaturalVue Multifocal: Broader Range and Flexibility

NaturalVue Multifocal expands myopia control to children who may have higher prescriptions or mild astigmatism. Its advanced lens design provides consistent treatment across a wide range of prescriptions, making it an option for many children who may not fit the criteria for MiSight. Real-world results show that NaturalVue can slow or even stop myopia progression in many patients. And because it’s a daily disposable, families enjoy the same convenience and strong hygiene benefits as other daily lenses.

SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal: Personalized for Complex Cases

SpecialEyes Custom Multifocal offers a truly individualized approach for children whose eyes don’t fit the parameters of standard lenses, such as those with very high myopia, significant astigmatism, or unique eye shapes. These lenses are custom-designed based on each child’s exact eye measurements, providing a tailored solution that addresses complex prescriptions and fitting needs. SpecialEyes lenses are worn during the day and replaced every three months, with daily cleaning and care.

Guiding You to the Best Choice

All three options, MiSight, NaturalVue, and SpecialEyes, are designed to help slow the progression of myopia. The best choice depends on your child’s unique eyes and your family’s daily routines. During your consultation, our doctors will review your child’s prescription, age, eye shape, and lifestyle, and guide you toward the lens that provides the best combination of vision, safety, and myopia control. Ongoing follow-up care ensures your child remains comfortable, healthy, and seeing their best every step of the way.

Schedule Your Myopia Control Contact Lens Exam at Orange County’s Trusted Vision Center

When it comes to managing myopia in children and teens, finding the right contact lens solution can make all the difference. At our Costa Mesa office, families throughout Orange County turn to us for personalized, advanced care with MiSight, NaturalVue, and SpecialEyes multifocal contact lenses. Our doctors hold advanced training and fellowships, and many families are referred to us for our experience with custom lens fittings and complex vision needs.

We’re proud that so many parents and patients have shared their stories of success, reflected in our hundreds of five-star reviews and our 4.9 star average rating across Google and Yelp. Our contact lens center is equipped with the latest diagnostic and fitting technologies, ensuring your child receives the most accurate, comfortable, and effective care possible.

If you’re ready to take the next step in protecting your child’s vision, we invite you to schedule a comprehensive myopia control contact lens evaluation with our team. We’re dedicated to helping your family achieve healthy, comfortable vision with the best options available, right here in the heart of Orange County.

Insight Vision Center Optometry is a proud member of Vision Source, the premier network of private practice optometrists.

Our Testimonials

Real experiences from clients who’ve seen our expertise—discover what our patients have to say.

Dr. Chen and the staff are very friendly and professional and can provide patients with sincere service and advice.

Elise Fu

Insight Vision Center Optometry has truly transformed my eyecare experience over the past year. Under the expert care of Dr. Chen, Dr. Schramm, Dr. Lam, and Dr. Mai, I've received unparalleled attention and personalized service. Their commitment to excellence extends beyond the doctors to the outstanding admin and tech team who ensure a seamless... Read more

Nathaniel Choi

Dr. Mai and the entire personnel are amazing! Extremely polite, kind and professional. In addition, I can now see 20/20!!! Thank you, thank you all

Franchezka 777

Dr. Schramm is stellar. He really cares about his patients. Great staff. Scleral lenses are life changing.

Kevin W

My first eye exam in fifteen years. I am so thankful that I found Insight Vision Center. Dr. Lam and staff made me feel like a welcome guest. My eye exam revealed very minor blurriness and Dr. Lam did not pressure me into purchasing eyewear for a condition not necessitating glasses… yet. Maybe next... Read more

Scott H.

Dr. Lam and staff are amazing. Every phone call or interaction is friendly. You can feel the smiles and joy over whatever mode of communication you are interacting with them. Dr. Lam is very knowledgeable and helps you to better understand everything that is going on with your eyes. She made me aware of... Read more

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