CooperVision’s MiSight 1 day Becomes First Pediatric Myopia-Control Contact Lens Available in Japan

CooperVision has begun offering its MiSight 1 day myopia-control contact lenses in Japan, marking the first time a soft contact lens with regulatory authorization for slowing nearsightedness progression in children has entered the country’s vision care market. The launch, announced Feb. 10, 2026, follows approval by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and immediately makes the lenses accessible to eye care practitioners and families nationwide.

The Japanese market represents a significant opportunity for myopia control, with estimations that up to 77 % of elementary-school-aged children are myopic—translating to millions who could potentially benefit from interventions that address both clarity of vision and the risk of disease progression. MiSight 1 day is the first and only soft contact lens authorized for this dual purpose in Japan and joins similar approvals already in place in the United States and China.

Built on proprietary ActivControl Technology, the daily disposable lens features alternating zones designed to correct refractive error while producing myopic defocus, which clinical studies suggest can slow the rate of myopia progression. Results from multi-year research indicate an average reduction of approximately 59 % in progression over three years, with a notable proportion of eyes showing no progression during the study period.

CooperVision executives described the launch as a milestone for pediatric eye care in Japan, emphasizing the company’s commitment to expanding access to evidence-based myopia management. In the press release, Jennifer Lambert, Vice President of Myopia Management and Cornea Care, framed the availability of MiSight 1 day as part of a broader mission to support vision health for children globally.

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, affects close to one-third of children internationally and is projected to increase substantially in prevalence over the coming decades. The condition not only impacts day-to-day activities such as reading and sports but is also associated with heightened lifetime risks for retinal detachment, glaucoma and other ocular pathologies if progression continues unchecked.

While conventional contact lenses and spectacles correct visual acuity, myopia control lenses like MiSight 1 day are intended to modify the visual environment in ways that can slow axial elongation of the eye—a key driver of worsening nearsightedness. This makes early intervention in pediatric patients a potential strategy for mitigating long-term complications.

The launch in Japan expands CooperVision’s myopia management portfolio, which also includes other daily disposable lenses, spectacles and orthokeratology options, and reflects a growing emphasis among eye care professionals on proactive approaches rather than solely corrective solutions.

As MiSight 1 day becomes more widely adopted, Japan joins a growing number of countries where evidence-based interventions for childhood myopia are available, reinforcing a shift in clinical practice toward addressing both the symptoms and progression of nearsightedness in younger populations.