It it suitable for children?

• This contact lens was designed with children in mind. It is a soft hydrogel plastic material so children often find this very comfortable.
• Being a daily disposable modality means that there is very little concern about contamination and infection.

Is my child suitable?

• Children who are very active may find a huge benefit in using contact lenses to free them of their dependence on glasses.
• Teenagers who don’t sleep well may be better suited to daily disposable lenses that don’t require consistent sleep as with orthokeratology contact lenses.
• This type of contact lens corrects up to -6.00 dioptres of short-sightedness / myopia. 
• Astigmatism cannot be corrected with MiSight contact lenses, however a small amount of astigmatism can be tolerated.

An assessment is required with your optometrist to determine whether your child is a suitable candidate, to check that their eyes are healthy, and the appropriate shape to increase the chances of successful contact lens wear. 

Who is answering the FAQs on this page?

My name is Carina, and I’m the author of this website, Sydney Orthokeratology. I have been practising Orthokeratology since 2013, and have had experience with forms of myopia management options a few years prior to this. My practice Carina Eye Care is situated in Burwood, an inner west suburb of Sydney in NSW, Australia. I have built my practice around providing proactive and comprehensive care, supported by flexible and extended appointments, to provide patients with complete confidence in their ongoing eye care. If you are interested in meeting me for a consultation for you or your child, please feel free to get in touch via email, phone, or by booking an appointment online.

Are contact lenses safe for children?

Evidence shows that young children are actually much safer contact lens wearers when compared to adults in their 20s. The risk of infection in daily disposable contact lenses like MiSight is 1 in 5000, in other words if there are 5000 children wearing contact lenses for 1 year, 1 of those children will develop an eye infection. Or, if your child were to wear contact lenses for 5000 years, then they may develop one eye infection. For more information about the safety of contact lens wear in children, please watch this short video.

Why haven’t I heard about MiSight contact lenses?

MiSight is not available everywhere because it requires specific training and accreditation to prescribe the lens for your child. 

What is the process to get my child fitted with MiSight?

There are a series of steps that begin with:

Step 1: Have a full comprehensive consultation (bulk-billed)

You will need to have had a full comprehensive initial consultation with us to have your prescription measured, and your eye health assessed. 

Step 2: Book a contact lens fitting & teach appointment.

If your child is suitable for the MiSight contact lens, then an appointment will be scheduled to have your child fitted and taught how to insert and remove the lenses. 

The cost of the consultation fee is $150 and you will not incur any further fees for follow up appointments and reviews for a 12 month period. 

What if my child can’t work out how to use the lenses?

Most children aged 8-12 are able to learn how to insert and remove contact lenses easily, and on average take only 15-20 minutes longer than a teenager or adult would. Any extra practice sessions can be booked in without any additional cost.

What are the alternative options?

There is also NaturalVue and SEED EDOF 1 Day, please book an appointment to find out what options may be most suitable for your child.