A new type of eyeglass lens designed to slow childhood nearsightedness was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in September. The decision marked an important development in pediatric eye care as myopia rates continue to rise worldwide. Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, reduces the ability to see distant objects clearly and has become more common among children in recent years. Medical experts estimate that 30 to 40 percent of children in the United States develop myopia by the end of high school. Researchers have linked this increase to lifestyle changes, including more time spent indoors and extended periods of screen use or close reading.

Until recently, most treatments corrected vision but did not slow the progression of myopia. Specialists warned that this approach was limited because severe myopia increases the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal damage, glaucoma, and cataracts. The newly approved lenses use a specialized optical design that changes how light reaches the retina, a process believed to slow abnormal eye growth. Company studies reviewed by regulators showed a substantial reduction in myopia progression after two years of use. Although the lenses are more expensive than standard glasses, experts described the approval as a pivotal step forward. Additional studies are now underway in the United States to confirm long-term results.