Many parents have recently asked me: "Doctor, my child is wearing defocus lenses, yet their prescription keeps increasing. Are these lenses ineffective?"

In reality, defocus lenses are not a "magic solution" that completely halts myopia progression. They are, however, a critical tool in pediatric myopia management. Myopia results from multiple factors; even with high-performance defocus lenses, prescription increases can still occur if other aspects of care aren't optimized. Today, we'll clarify the core reasons parents worry about most and explain how Jingmu Eyewear helps families avoid common pitfalls in children's myopia control.

Reason 1: Natural axial elongation is an inevitable part of a child's physical development.

Key point to understand: myopia degree is closely linked to axial length. Like a balloon, the adult eye's normal axial length is about 2 mm; for every 1 mm increase in axial length, myopia increases by approximately 300 degrees.

School-age children are in a growth phase, and their eyeballs naturally elongate along with the rest of their body. This is a normal physiological process. The function of defocus lenses is toSlow down the rate of axial length growth, rather than stopping it completely.For example, a child not wearing myopia-control lenses may experience an axial length increase of 1mm per year; with defocus lenses, this drops to 0.5mm, indicating effective control. However, as long as the eye continues its physiological elongation, the prescription will still increase slightly.

This is why Jingmu Eyewear creates a dedicated profile for every child undergoing myopia control. We use Zeiss-compatible索维 biometry devices to regularly monitor axial length.The rate of axial length growth is the most critical indicator for evaluating prevention and control effectiveness.。

Reason 2: Poor eye habits undermine results, making even the best defocus lenses less effective.

Defocus lenses work by using specialized optical design to focus peripheral light in front of the retina, thereby slowing axial elongation. However, they cannot control a child's daily visual habits: prolonged desk work, extended tablet use, and excessive near-vision load continue to stimulate eye growth.

Common bad habits that reduce prevention and control effectiveness: ✅ Insufficient daily outdoor exposure to natural light (recommend ≥ 1.5 hours outdoors per day; natural light helps inhibit axial elongation of the eye) ✅ Continuous close-up work exceeding 40 minutes without breaks, causing sustained eye strain ✅ Poor posture while reading or writing, such as tilting the head or holding materials too close, which worsens visual fatigue

In simple terms: defocus lenses act like "speed bumps" for the eye. However, continued poor visual habits are like constantly pressing the accelerator, making myopia progression more likely. At Jingmu Eyewear, when we customize a myopia control plan for your child, we also provide parents with...Eye Behavior PrescriptionGuide outdoor activities and correct reading/writing posture. Myopia prevention isn't just about getting glasses—it's about managing the entire habit system.

Reason 3: Inaccurate lens fitting reduces the effectiveness of myopia control lenses.

Many parents believe that once defocus lenses are fitted, the job is done. However, the effectiveness of these lenses in controlling myopia progression heavily depends on the precision of the eye exam and lens fitting. If the examination overlooks binocular vision assessment and the child has issues such as latent strabismus or insufficient accommodation, their eyes will fatigue easily, significantly reducing the protective effect. Similarly, if critical parameters like pupillary height or vertex distance are measured inaccurately, the defocus light points will shift off-target, rendering the lens's design ineffective.

Jingmu Eyewear uses Zeiss's full suite of digital optometry equipment to execute a 11-step standardized optometry process. This includes comprehensive binocular vision function assessments and 3D facial parameter capture. Pupil height and vertex distance are precisely measured by instruments rather than estimated manually, ensuring optimal optical performance for myopia-control lenses.

Reason 4: Genetics and individual differences determine the rate of myopia progression.

Children's myopia progression varies individually, much like differences in height development. If both parents have high myopia, the child's risk of rapid myopia progression increases significantly. Under this genetic influence, defocus lenses alone may not be sufficient; additional management strategies, such as evaluating orthokeratology (OK) lenses, may be necessary.

We won't overstate results or claim that defocus lenses control all myopia. Instead, we tailor plans to each child's needs: for those with weaker visual function, we begin with vision therapy before prescribing defocus lenses to ensure effective prevention and control.

Reason 5: Delayed review missed the golden window to adjust prevention and control measures.

Myopia management is a dynamic process, not a one-time solution after getting glasses. A child's eye condition constantly changes; axial length may increase rapidly in the first half of the year and slow down later. Without regular follow-ups using outdated parameters, your management plan will lag behind these changes, leading to uncontrolled myopia progression.

Jingmu Eyewear will send periodic reminder notifications for follow-up exams to children enrolled in our myopia control program:Monitor axial length every 3 months; conduct a comprehensive pediatric optometry assessment every six months.Use ZEISS VISUSCREEN standardized target system to assess refractive status, adjust plans promptly, and proactively manage myopia progression.

Practical Advice for Parents: Stay Calm, Focus on Key Prevention Measures

1. Prioritize monitoring axial length growth rate, not just refractive error.An annual axial length increase of 0.3 mm is within the ideal range; if it exceeds 0.5 mm, consult an optometrist promptly to evaluate and adjust the treatment plan.

2. Dual control: lenses + visual habitsEnsure 1.5 hours of outdoor time daily. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes of near work, look at a distant object 5 feet (approximately 6 meters) away for 20 seconds, and maintain proper reading and writing posture.

3. Visit a professional store for regular check-upsAvoid stores offering quick, basic vision screenings. Instead, choose institutions equipped with Zeiss's full suite of devices and experienced in pediatric optometry, such as Jingmu Eyewear, for a comprehensive eye assessment.

In short, managing myopia in children is not as simple as buying a pair of defocusing lenses. It requires a personalized, dynamic, and long-term management plan. As a vision solution provider driven by professional optometry, Jingmu Eyewear does not recommend "one-size-fits-all" glasses. Instead, we tailor a dedicated myopia control plan for every child. Leveraging ZEISS precision diagnostic equipment and the expertise of our Level 1 optometrists, we ensure comprehensive management throughout the myopia control process to effectively slow down myopia progression.