MiSight 1 day Becomes First Soft Contact Lens for Myopia Control Approved in Japan

CooperVision has gained approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for the manufacture and sale of its innovative MiSight 1 day contact lenses. The milestone decision makes MiSight 1 day the first soft contact lens in the country authorized for use by children to correct myopia and control its progression.^*

As myopia rates increase globally, with approximately 5 billion people estimated to have myopia by 2050, Japan has one of the highest rates of myopia in the world.¹ In Japan, 77% of children aged 6-11 and 95% of children aged 12-14 are myopes.² The increasing trend is believed to stem from changes in lifestyle, particularly a decrease in outdoor time and an increase in near-distance activities such as studying, reading, and digital device use.^3,4,5 Beyond immediate effects on vision, myopia progression also increases the risk for serious eye diseases such as retinal detachment and glaucoma in the future, making early intervention essential.^6,7,8,9

“CooperVision is extremely pleased that eye care professionals and families in Japan will have access to MiSight 1 day, the world’s number one most fitted soft contact lens for myopia control.^†10 Introducing MiSight 1 day as an accessible tool to help treat the myopia epidemic among Japanese children has the potential to help prevent longer-term ocular health consequences¹¹ on a significant scale,” said Jennifer Lambert, Vice President, Myopia Management & Cornea Care, CooperVision. “Japanese children will soon be able to wear a contact lens that’s currently being successfully used by hundreds of thousands of children around the world,¹² and we look forward to partnering with Japan’s renowned ophthalmology community to fight myopia together.”

This milestone approval in Japan means that MiSight 1 day is now the first and only contact lens approved for myopia control in three major markets: Japan, the United States, with its Food and Drug Administration approval, and China, with its National Medical Products Administration approval. Using its unique ActivControl technology, the lens addresses both axial length elongation and refractive error.⁹ Two treatment zones focus on the anterior portion of the retina to inhibit axial length elongation, while two correction zones correct myopia.¹³ The product is supported by the longest clinical study of any soft contact lens for myopia control, which occurred over seven years.

Commercial launch plans and initial shipment details will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

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_{* A medical examination and prescription by a doctor are required to confirm eligibility.
† Based on available fit data in the UK and US for patients under 20.}

_{References
1 Baird PN et al. Myopia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020;6(1):99.
2 Yotsukura E et al. Current prevalence of myopia and association of myopia with environmental factors among schoolchildren in Japan. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019;137(11):1233-9.
3 Xiong S, Sankaridurg P, Naduvilath T, Zang J, Zou H, Zhu J, Lv M, He X, Xu X. Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Acta Ophthalmol. 2017 Sep;95(6):551-566.
4 Huang HM, Chang DS, Wu PC. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 20;10(10):e0140419.
5 Lanca C, Saw SM. The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020 Mar;40(2):216-229.
6 Xu L et al. High myopia and glaucoma susceptibility, the Beijing Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2007;114(2):216-20.
7 Flitcroft DI. The complex interactions of retinal, optical and environmental factors in myopia aetiology. PRER 2013;31(6):622-60.
8 Younan C, et al. Myopia and incident cataract and cataract surgery: the blue mountains eye study. IVOS 2002;43(12):3625-3632.
9 Chen SJ, et al. Prevalence and associated risk factors of myopic maculopathy in elderly Chinese: the Shihpai eye study. IOVS 2012;53(8):4868-73.
10 CVI Data on file 2025, MiSight 1 day and similar lens types – patients under 20.
11 Tideman JW et al. Association of axial length with risk of uncorrectable visual impairment for Europeans with myopia. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134:1355-1363.
12 CVI data on file 2025. Internal MiSight 1 day global wearer modeling estimates for the 12-month period of June 2024 to May 2025.
13 CVI data on file 2025.}