Hoya MiYOSMART IQ

What MiYOSMART iQ is

It is a spectacle lens for children from age 4 whose myopia is progressing. What sets it apart from an ordinary single vision lens is the surface: a 9.4 mm clear central zone with full correction, surrounded by a honeycomb field of micro-segments carrying an additional optical power of +3.50 D.

The child looks through the centre and sees clearly. At the same time the micro-segments create myopic defocus in front of the peripheral retina — an optical signal that slows the axial growth of the eyeball. That excessive growth is what makes myopia stronger year after year.

The technology is called D.I.M.S. — Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments. HOYA developed it together with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; the first MiYOSMART lenses launched in 2018 and more than 15 million lenses have been sold in over 50 countries since.

How iQ differs from the original MiYOSMART

iQ is D.I.M.S. with reworked geometry that HOYA calls Triple Enhanced Design (DIMS TED). Three changes:

• Segments moved closer to the lens centre, so myopic defocus lands on the near-peripheral retina — the region most responsive to that signal.
• Higher defocus power, delivering a stronger signal.
• Treatment zone extended from 33 mm to 41 mm, covering the peripheral field even in larger children's frames.

In 6-month interim data, iQ was twice as effective as the first-generation MiYOSMART at controlling myopia progression and axial elongation.

What the clinical evidence shows

The 12-month data was presented at the ARVO 2026 congress in Denver. Design: randomised controlled trial, 202 children aged 4–12 with progressing myopia, three arms (ordinary single vision lenses, MiYOSMART, MiYOSMART iQ); 196 children completed the year.

9 out of 10 children showed no clinically relevant progression over the first year (clinically relevant defined as an SER change strictly greater than −0.50 D over 12 months).

The underlying D.I.M.S. technology has a longer record: in a 2-year randomised trial (BJO, 2020, children aged 8–13) myopia progression was 59% lower and axial elongation 60% lower than with ordinary lenses. Follow-ups at 3 and 6 years showed the effect is sustained, with no rebound after discontinuation.

Worth knowing the status of the data: as of July 2026 the 12-month iQ results have been presented at scientific congresses and a peer-reviewed publication is pending. The first-generation D.I.M.S. results are published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Who it suits

• Children from age 4 with documented progressing myopia. iQ is HOYA's first lens with clinical evidence for myopia control from age 4.
• Children already on myopia control that is not delivering enough.
• Families for whom contact methods are not an option: the lens never touches the eye, so there is no infection risk and no daily handling.
• Range on our site: sphere 0.00 to −10.00 D, cylinder up to −4.00 D.

Who it does not suit: the lens does not undo dioptres already accumulated and does not restore vision — it acts on the rate of further progression. For a stable adult myopia there is no point.

Choosing a frame for MiYOSMART iQ

The treatment zone is 41 mm in diameter. If the frame is small and the lens has to be cut down heavily, part of that zone is lost and the effect weakens. So the frame is chosen together with the lens, not separately.

• Enough vertical aperture to keep the working zone intact.
• Precise centration: the pupil must sit within the 9.4 mm clear centre. Off-centre fitting reduces the effect.
• The frame must sit firmly and not slide down — the lens only works when the child looks through it, not over it.
• An ALIV optician checks frame compatibility before the lenses are ordered.

Wearing schedule and follow-up

• Full-time wear — all day except sleeping and showering. The trial results were obtained with full-day wear.
• Adaptation usually takes 1–2 weeks. Active sport is best paused during that period.
• Follow-up at least every 6 months: refraction and axial length are measured and the trend reviewed.
• The prescription changes over time — lenses are remade to the new values.

Material, coating and safety

• Polycarbonate 1.59 — an impact-resistant material that has passed the high-velocity impact drop ball test. For an active child that matters.
• 100% UV-A and UV-B protection.
• S.P.A.R.K. coating (for MiYOSMART iQ lenses): 50% more scratch-resistant and five times more water-repellent than the previous generation, with easy cleaning retained after roughly three years of daily wiping.
• The method is non-invasive: no drops, no contact with the cornea, no overnight lenses.

Clear, photochromic and sun options

The MiYOSMART range comes in three executions, all keeping the myopia control technology:

• MiYOSMART iQ (clear) — the everyday option, visually indistinguishable from an ordinary lens.
• Chameleon — photochromic: darkens outdoors and clears indoors within seconds. Convenient when the child is in and out a lot and does not want to swap glasses.
• Sunbird — polarised, category 3 tint. An addition to clear glasses for bright sun and glare, not a replacement for them.

Chameleon and Sunbird are particularly useful for light-sensitive children, including those on atropine therapy.

How to order at ALIV

• Price: 126,000 ₸ per lens, 252,000 ₸ per pair. The frame is paid for separately.
• Made to order — 21 days.
• A current prescription is required. If you don't have one, an optometrist appointment at ALIV stores in Astana and Almaty is free.
• Delivery in Astana and Almaty — express from 15 minutes; elsewhere in Kazakhstan — courier or Kazpost.
• Payment: Kaspi.kz, card, Halyk; pay-after-delivery available.

Frequently asked questions