Hat-trick for myopia lens innovation

Hoya Lens UK is thrilled to announce its third consecutive win at the Optician Awards for its MiyoSmart spectacle lens for myopia. It is estimated that by 2050, more than 50 per cent of people, regardless of where they live, will have myopia1

Since the launch of MiyoSmart in the UK in February 2021, Hoya has continuously supported independent eyecare professionals (ECPs) to raise awareness of myopia and the importance of its management.

Hoya is on a mission to curb myopia by providing professional education such as CPD and ongoing support with practice team training, raising consumer awareness and increasing holistic advice to parents and guardians, and enhancing the parent and patient journey.

Over recent months Hoya undertook a two-month awareness campaign targeting parents of youngsters across multiple channels such as Facebook, YouTube, Mumsnet and Google. Extending its campaign to millions of people across the UK and Ireland, the aim is to help them better understand what myopia is and how new-generation spectacle lenses could help their child. All communications encouraged parents to book an eye examination for their child with their local independent MiyoSmart-accredited optician.

Hoya also recognises that there is a large disconnect between the importance of children’s eye health and the school curriculum. Hoya’s ‘Eye Care We Care’ scheme enables independent ECPs to partner with local schools to promote the importance of eye health and their practice in their local schools and community effectively.

The Hoya team attended the glamorous black-tie Optician Awards in December at the Hilton Park Lane, London, alongside more than 500 attendees from across the eyecare industry. The team were thrilled to win the 2022 Lens Award, and would like to thank all ECPs who continue to join them on their mission to curb myopia.

Martin Batho, managing director of Hoya Lens UK, said: “On behalf of the all the team at Hoya, we are delighted with the news that our latest innovation MiyoSmart won the Lens Award at the Optician Awards 2022. Our customers and the Hoya team continue to work together to make a real difference in the myopia management category. We look forward to sharing our exciting plans to further develop this category, in order to support children all around the world.”

1. Calculated continental averages, based on data from Holden BA et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016 123(5):1036-1042. ■

“Everyone involved in eyecare should be excited about myopia management and how we can help protect the sight of the next generation. We jumped into dispensing MiyoSmart. It is simple to dispense after the excellent accreditation training from Hoya. We have had minimal issues with non-tolerance to the lens with most wearers saying they are unaware of any major visual discomfort,” Ian Curtis, owner of Curtis Opticians.

“This innovative lens was not launched using glossy marketing adjectives, but was underpinned by a strong research base and robust clinical trials. I have recently completed a six-month review on the fourth patient dispensed with this lens. MiyoSmart is straightforward to dispense but does require careful frame selection and centration, along with a visual demonstration of the lens to the patient and parent. Feedback regarding adaptation from all of the patients has been positive with no non-tolerances so far. Of the four patients I have reviewed, none have demonstrated myopic progression which is obviously very encouraging,” Andrew Keirl, optometrist and dispensing optician, Liskeard, Cornwall.