Myopia Control in Children: Slowing Nearsightedness for a Healthier Future

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness), you’re not alone. Myopia is becoming increasingly common in children, and it often progresses as they grow. While glasses can correct blurry distance vision, they don’t stop myopia from worsening.

The good news? Modern advancements in eye care now offer ways to slow down myopia progression, helping protect your child’s long-term eye health.
 

What Is Myopia and Why Does It Matter?

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long from front to back, causing distant objects to appear blurry. While this can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, higher levels of myopia are associated with an increased risk of eye health issues later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

That’s why early intervention is so important.
 

What Is Myopia Control?

Myopia control refers to treatments designed not just to correct vision, but to slow the progression of myopia over time. These treatments are especially effective when started early, while a child’s eyes are still developing.
 

Myopia Control Options for Children

1. Specialty Myopia Control Glasses (Stellest Lenses)
Stellest lenses are an innovative type of eyeglass lens designed specifically for myopia control. They look like regular glasses but use advanced optical technology to help slow eye growth.

These lenses create a unique pattern that allows clear central vision while simultaneously sending a “signal” to the eye to reduce elongation, one of the key drivers of myopia progression.

Benefits:

• Non-invasive and easy for children to wear

• No additional handling compared to regular glasses

• Proven to slow myopia progression in many children
   

2. Myopia Control Contact Lenses (MiSight 1 Day)
MiSight 1 day lenses are soft, daily disposable contact lenses specifically FDA-approved for myopia control in children. Like Stellest lenses, they use specialized optics to both correct vision and slow myopia progression.

Because they are worn directly on the eye, they can provide excellent vision and freedom from glasses during daily activities and sports.

Benefits:

• Daily disposable for convenience and hygiene

• Great for active kids

• Clinically shown to slow myopia progression
   

Myopia tends to worsen most rapidly during childhood. The earlier treatment begins, the more effective it can be in slowing progression and reducing the risk of high myopia later in life.

Even small reductions in progression can have a meaningful impact on long-term eye health.
 

Yes, both Stellest lenses and MiSight contact lenses have been extensively studied and are considered safe when used as directed. Your optometrist will help determine which option is best based on your child’s age, prescription, lifestyle, and comfort level.
 

Supporting Healthy Vision Habits

In addition to treatment, simple lifestyle habits can also help support your child’s eye health:

• Encourage outdoor play and natural light exposure

• Limit prolonged screen time when possible

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule during near work
   

Final Thoughts

Myopia management is about more than just seeing clearly today, it’s about protecting your child’s vision for the future. With options like Stellest lenses and MiSight contact lenses, we now have effective tools to slow myopia progression and support lifelong eye health. At Visionary Eye Care, we offer the highest technology to monitor myopia control advancement using the MYAH. This technology allows us to objectively track progression of myopia by using the length of the eyeball. If your child has myopia or you’ve noticed changes in their vision, schedule an eye exam to discuss whether myopia control treatment is right for them. Early action can make a lasting difference.