Faq
1. WHAT IS MYOPIA AND HOW MUCH IS IT SPREAD?
Myopia is a common refractive error. It happens when the eye grows too fast and becomes too long or when the cornea has too much curvature and it is too thick. This means that the light rays focus in front of the retina instead of focusing on it. The subject that presents myopia can clearly see close objects, but the distant ones look blurry. We estimate that 5 billion of people, i.e. half of the world population, might present myopia by 2050.
2. WHAT IS THE D.I.M.S. TECHNOLOGY?
D.I.M.S. Technology means Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments. This is the technology used for the MiyoSmart lens, the ophthalmic innovative lens by Hoya to control myopia.
3. HOW DOES MIYOSMART WORK?
MiyoSmart lenses have a central optical area for myopia correction, this area is surrounded by multiple defocus segments which extend up to the average periphery of the lens. The lens has three parts where the power of the distant vision is established: the optical central area, the spaces between multiple segments and the peripherical area. This provides a clear vision and a myopia defocus at the same time to all distances of vision, checking the progression of myopia by using the natural homeostatic mechanism known as “emmetropization”. The eyeball gets used and molds thanks to this mechanism to receive focalized images as it would do in the normal vision.
4. WAS THE MIYOSMART EFFECTIVENESS CLINICALLY PROVEN?
Yes. A two-year clinical trial from 2014 to 2017 on 160 kids aged between 8 and 13 has proven that the MiyoSmart technology managed to decrease the myopia progression by an average of 59.3%. The results of this study have also shown that children who use MiyoSmart had a 60% average less axial lengthening if compared to those ones who wear normal monofocal lenses. In 2018, MiyoSmart lens with D.I.M.S. technology was awarded with the prestigious Grand Prize, Grand Award and Gold Medal to the 46th International Invention Exhibition of Geneva, Switzerland. In 2020, it was awarded with the SILMO d’Or in the Vision category.
5. WHAT ARE THE MAIN MIYOSMART BENEFITS?
The one who wears it gets the myopia correction for the distant vision and controls the myopia progression. MiyoSmart is suitable for kids, safe, non-invasive and it is easy to get used to. The lens is aesthetically pleasant, with a smooth surface and a look very much alike to normal monofocal lenses.
6. WHAT AGE DO YOU RECOMMEND MIYOSMART?
Usually, children face the myopia progression between 8 to 13 years more rapidly. MiyoSmart can be prescribed to any child/teenager between 6 to 18 years, even if this has to be determined case by case.
The treatment can start whenever the myopia progression starts. The sooner the treatment starts and with a low myopia value, the better the benefits are going to be.
7. WILL I FACE TROUBLE IN GETTING USED, FOR EXAMPLE DURING SPORT ACTIVITIES?
During the two-year clinical trial by the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (PolyU), no problems were claimed with reference to adaptation. This is why you can wear the glasses even during sport activities. To get the best benefits from the treatment the glass needs to be constantly used for all day long.
8. WILL THE BEARERS HAVE A BLURRY VISION DUE TO THE DEFOCUS??
No issues have ever been reported, nor significant differences between the vision with monofocal lenses and the MiyoSmart lenses. Nevertheless, we advise that the child avoids any physical activity during the adaptation period of roughly 1 or 2 weeks.
9. DO I NEED FURTHER TESTS OR FOLLOW-UP CHECKS?
Yes. To guarantee the best benefit from MiyoSmart, we advise to follow the guidelines with inclusion criteria to identify suitable subjects to wear these lenses. Plan checkups every 6 months.
10. IS THE AESTHETIC OF THE LENS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE D.I.M.S. TECHNOLOGY?
Thanks to its productive evolutive Hoya technology, these lenses have a smooth surface, the area of treatment is almost invisible and the lenses look like a usual monofocal lens.
11. WHICH ANTI-REFLEX TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE WITH MIYOSMART?
Lenses have an anti-glare treatment specific for MiyoSmart technology, easy to clean and long-lasting, perfect for children.
12. IS THE MIYOSMART MATERIAL SAFE?
Lenses for children must be impact-resistant. Therefore MiyoSmart is made of polycarbonate 1.59, very impact-resistant, passing the high-speed impact test. Moreover, the material is UV rays protective.
Technical Faq
1. WHAT IS THE MYOPIA DEFOCUS POWER IN THE MIYOSMART LENSES WITH D.I.M.S. TECHNOLOGY?
To effectively check the myopia progression, the myopia defocus needs to be constantly experienced, even with the rotation of the eyeball. This requires a meaningful quantity of defocus segments to be evenly spread over the lens surface. This “area of treatment” has multiple small round segments with a defocus power equal to +3.50D and it has a diameter of roughly 33 mm.
2. HOW HAS THE MIYOSMART LENS TO BE CENTERED?
Based on the monocular DP and EP, the center of the pupil needs to be in correspondence of the geometric center of the central clear area of the lens.
3. GLASSES FOR CHILDREN ARE SLIPPERY, CHECKING THE CENTERING IS HARD. THIS AFFECTS THE PROGRESSIVE, BIFOCAL LENSES AND THE ONES WITH PERIPHERY DEFOCUS. WILL THIS HAPPEN WITH MIYOSMART AS WELL?
No, it won’t. The central area is big enough, 9.4 mm, and the area of treatment is 33 mm. This also guarantees a clear vision from afar in the treatment area as well. This is possible thanks to the special distribution of the defocus segments in the treatment area, which guarantee a 50% in the area of treatment and a 50% in the area with the myopia correction.
4. WHAT’S THE POSITIONING RECOMMENDED FOR THE GLASS FRAME FOR THE RIGHT FUNCTIONING OF THE MIYOSMART LENSES?
MiyoSmart is recommended for children, so the advised WA (Wrap Angle) is equal to 0 – 5°, the PA (Pantoscopic Angle) equal to 0° and the LCAD (Lens Corneal Apex Distance) roughly of 10mm.
5. ARE ALL EYEGLASSES FRAMES IDEAL FOR MIYOSMART?
Usually all the frames are functional, as there are no limits to the top or the bottom edge. Plastic or metal frames are the most appropriate ones, but rimless frames can also be used.
6. CAN MIYOSMART LENSES BE USED ALONG WITH OTHER TREATMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF MYOPIA?
Theoretically they can, but there are no clinical studies showing what effects these combinations might have. The decision to prescribe MiyoSmart lenses depends on each case.
7. WHEN DOES THE MIYOSMART LENS NEED TO BE REPLACED?
Replacement is recommended if there is an increase in the spherical equivalent ≥ -0.50D even in only one eye, compared to the previous refraction detected in the same way as in the previous check (minimum negative or cycloplegia). If the variation is 0.25D in one eye and 0.50D or more in the other one, you will need to modify only the eye prescription with a variation of 0.50D or more. However, for a better aesthetic and visual result, we recommend replacing the lens also of the eye that has not experienced the refractive variation.
8. ARE THERE CONTROINDICATIONS IN THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE MIYOSMART LENSES?
You need to be aware of any conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, keratoconus or any other pathology that may affect the result of the treatment. In such cases, the MiyoSmart lens should not be prescribed.
9. DO YOU RECOMMEND TO PRESCRIBE A NEUTRAL LENS WITH D.I.M.S. TECHNOLOGY AS PREVENTIVE APPROACH?
Theoretically speaking yes, but there is no clinical evidence yet supporting this theory at the moment. However, it is being studied.