Nearsightedness (myopia) has long ceased to be a marginal issue or a simple optical problem. In recent years, health organizations around the world have been warning of a sharp increase in the number of children and adolescents diagnosed with nearsightedness, a phenomenon defined by the World Health Organization as one of the most significant public health challenges of the coming decades.
Forecasts indicate that by 2050, about half of the world’s population will suffer from nearsightedness — a significant portion of them at severe levels.
The implications go far beyond the need for glasses: Advanced nearsightedness significantly increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, damage to the macula, and even irreversible vision loss.
A Large-Scale Israeli Study: Proven Slowing of Progression
Against this troubling backdrop, a new clinical study conducted at Assuta Medical Centers and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer presents particularly encouraging findings. The study, which lasted about two years and included more than one hundred children aged 6–12, examined the effectiveness of special eyeglass lenses using peripheral defocus technology (Myoslow) compared with regular glasses.
The children were divided into two groups: One group wore glasses with the dedicated lenses, and a control group wore standard glasses. All participants suffered from nearsightedness ranging from minus 1 to minus 5.
The findings were clear: Among the children who wore the special lenses, a slowdown of about 30% in the worsening of their prescription was recorded, alongside a slowdown of about 24% in the rate of elongation of the eyeball — a central mechanism in the progression of nearsightedness.
Why Is the Eyeball So Important?
Contrary to common belief, the worsening of nearsightedness does not stem only from an “increase in the number,” but from a physiological process in which the eyeball elongates beyond the norm. The longer the eye, the greater the risk of future damage.
The lenses examined in the study operate on the principle of peripheral defocus: They create a different focus at the edges of the retina, which sends a “braking signal” to the brain to limit further elongation of the eye. This is an optical intervention — not pharmaceutical and not invasive.
Young Age — A Significant Advantage
One of the most important findings of the study was the effect of age. Younger children, aged 6–9, derived the greatest benefit from using the lenses. In this group, a clearer and more significant slowdown in the rate of myopia progression was observed compared with older children.
The implication is clear: The earlier the intervention begins, the greater the chance of a long-term effect and a reduction in future complications.
Safety, Adaptation, and Quality of Life
One of the central questions in any treatment involving children is safety. Here, another reassuring finding emerged: The children adapted quickly to the lenses, almost no side effects were reported, and no impairment was recorded in visual quality, comfort, or daily functioning.
Quality-of-life questionnaires completed during the study showed no significant difference between children who wore the special lenses and those who wore regular glasses — a particularly important finding for parents concerned about effects on learning, sports, or social life.
What Do the Doctors Say?
Dr. Shiri Shulman, head of the ophthalmology department at Assuta, notes that the increase in nearsightedness among children is a global phenomenon with no single clear cause. According to her, “the ability to slow progression already at an early stage is critical, and the technology examined in the study offers an evidence-based, non-invasive solution.”
Prof. Tamara Wygnanski-Jaffe, head of the pediatric ophthalmology unit at Sheba, also emphasizes the importance of early monitoring and research-based intervention, given the long-term health implications of advanced nearsightedness.
Who Is It Suitable For — and Who Is It Less Suitable For?
The lenses are intended mainly for children with mild to moderate nearsightedness, of school age, especially in the early stages of myopia development. They do not replace medical follow-up and are not suitable for every case — for example, for children with very high nearsightedness or other complex eye conditions.
It is also important to emphasize: This is a slowing of progression, not a complete halt and not a “cure.”
The Bottom Line: In an era in which more children spend hours in front of screens and less time in daylight, nearsightedness is becoming a real medical challenge. The new Israeli study provides scientific evidence that a relatively simple solution — dedicated eyeglasses — can significantly influence children’s visual future, especially when started early.