France becomes first EU country to provide public funding for Miyosmart myopia control spectacles

Following a review by the Haute Autorité de santé [French National Authority for Health], children with severe myopia between the ages of five and 16 will become eligible for funded Miyosmart spectacles lenses from 1 July.

A statement from Hoya highlighted that around 500,000 children with high (-6.00D) and/or rapidly progressing (-0.50D/year) myopia are expected to benefit from the announcement.

Specific reimbursement for Miyosmart myopia control spectacle lenses will be provided through inclusion in the List of Products and Services code.

General manager of Hoya Vision Care France, Jean-Michel Lambert, described the development as a “hugely significant step forward formyopia management.”

“We are proud to play our part in creating a healthier future, where every child has the opportunity to see clearly and unleash their full potential,” he said.

A two-year randomised clinical trial found that Miyosmart myopia control spectacle lenses slowed down myopia progression on average by 60% among children wearing the spectacles compared to those wearing standard single vision spectacle lenses.

Since the product’s launch in 2018, more than 12 million Miyosmart myopia control spectacle lenses have been purchased globally.

Paediatric ophthalmologist, Professor Dominique Bremond-Gignac, highlighted the need to take urgent action to mitigate the burden of myopia.

“The reimbursement of Miyosmart in France is a significant step forward in our fight against childhood myopia. I hope this can signal a global movement, not only to acknowledge the need for prevention and early intervention but also ensuring effective treatments are accessible to those who need them most – ensuring no child’s vision is irreversibly compromised,” she said.