Myopia control lenses and homework hours: how to build a daily wear routine for your child

You have the exam results, the optometrist has recommended myopia control, and the lenses are on order. Now comes the part that happens at home: getting a child to wear them every day, through school, homework, play and bedtime reading. This guide covers the routine, not the product choice.

What the lenses are for

Myopia control lenses are designed to slow how quickly a myopic child's grade increases. The options we can discuss with you are Hoya MiYOSMART, Essilor Stellest and Shamir Optimee. They do not cure myopia, and they do not treat lazy eye, which is a separate condition. We do not quote progression figures, because results differ by child and by study. Your optometrist decides whether a child is a candidate.

Why the routine matters

A lens can only do its job when it is on the child's face. A pair that lives in a school bag, or gets swapped for an old pair at home, is not doing what it was prescribed to do. Follow the wearing advice your optometrist gives you. For most children that means wearing the glasses through all waking hours.

A simple daily routine

1. Morning: glasses go on before breakfast, just like a school uniform item. Keep the case in the same spot every night.
2. School: a small, labelled case in the bag. Tell the teacher the glasses are medical and should stay on.
3. After school: glasses stay on for merienda, homework and tablet time.
4. Outdoor time: keep them on. Time outside in daylight is linked to lower myopia risk in studies, so we encourage it as a habit alongside the lenses.
5. Evening: clean with a microfibre cloth, then back into the case, not the table or the bed.

Common problems and fixes

• "They feel weird." New lenses take a few days to feel normal. Bring the child back if it lasts beyond that, and we will check the fit.
• "They keep slipping." Fit is adjustable. Free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment covers it.
• "I forgot them." Keep a note on the bag or the door. Do not let the old pair become the default.
• "My friends laugh." Talk to your child. We have a separate guide on how to explain the lenses to kids.

Screens and reading

Long close work is part of school. Encourage breaks, good light, and a comfortable reading distance. Do not rely on the lens to cancel out hours of nonstop close-up screen use.

The follow-up visits

Follow-ups are how the optometrist tracks whether the grade is stable. Book them as advised, and bring the glasses so the team can check the fit and the condition of the lenses. If a lens is scratched or cracked, do not wait for the next visit to replace it.

When to call us sooner

Come in if your child complains of headaches, squints at the board, covers one eye, or has a sudden change in vision. Those are reasons for an eye test, not for waiting.

Make it a family habit

Children copy what they see. If parents also take a screen break and spend time outside, the routine feels like a household habit, not a rule aimed at one child.

Next step

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store. The seven-step exam, run by licensed optometrists, is where we decide whether myopia control is right for your child and which lens to use. Then ask the team about Hoya MiYOSMART, Essilor Stellest or Shamir Optimee, and how each fits your child's age, prescription and routine. If a spare everyday pair is needed, ask for Opulens Advanced 1.60, which is ready in 20 minutes. Every pair has a 1-year warranty, free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning, and free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment.