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Myopia control treatments address the growing concern of progressive nearsightedness through proven, evidence-based strategies. At Weston Contact Lens Institute, we specialize in myopia control for children. Our treatments are tailored to each child’s needs to support long-term eye health. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a condition that occurs when a child’s eye elongates excessively, creating blurred distance vision.
Factors such as prolonged screen time, homework, and extended reading, combined with limited time outdoors, can contribute to faster myopia progression during the school years. Our experienced eye care team performs comprehensive eye examinations to detect early signs of myopia and monitor how a child’s vision is developing. We work closely with families to understand each child’s needs and recommend treatments designed to slow the progression of myopia and support long-term eye health.
Why Is Myopia Control Important?
When myopia is not managed, it can lead to complications such as retinal detachment, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. Progressive myopia in kids increases the risk of associated conditions. However, early intervention can significantly reduce the chances of their development. The clinically proven myopia control methods discussed in this blog slow the progression of the condition, helping children enjoy clear vision and avoid vision loss in later life.
When myopia progresses, the eye can become longer from front to back, a process known as axial elongation. As the eye stretches, the tissues inside the eye become thinner and more fragile, which can increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life. For this reason, it’s important to address myopia early, while children’s eyes are still developing.
Some children experience rapid myopia progression, while others change more gradually. Regular eye examinations with an experienced eye care professional can help detect early changes and determine the most appropriate treatment to help slow progression and protect long-term eye health.
Orthokeratology: Overnight Vision Correction
Orthokeratology, or ortho-k for kids, is an innovative non-surgical vision correction option. Ortho-k lenses are rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses that are worn overnight to reshape the elongated cornea gently. Ortho-k lenses are unique because they provide clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or daily lenses. Ortho-K also creates peripheral myopic defocus, which signals the eye to slow elongation, therefore supporting long-term corneal stability.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is a highly effective option for myopia management and has been shown to slow myopia progression by more than 50% in many children. When carefully fitted and monitored by an eye care professional, Ortho-K is a safe and well-established treatment that works by reshaping the cornea overnight to reduce the stimulus for eye growth. Our team has extensive experience using Ortho-K lenses as part of a comprehensive myopia management plan designed to help protect children’s long-term vision while allowing them to enjoy clear vision during the day without glasses or contact lenses.
Distance Center Multifocal Soft Lenses: Comfortable Daily Wear
Distance center multifocal soft lenses are another excellent pediatric myopia treatment that features distinct zones to manage myopia. The central zone provides clear vision, while the outer rings create peripheral myopic defocus to inhibit eye growth. Worn daily as standard soft contact lenses, these advanced lenses slow myopic progression and provide comfortable vision correction well tolerated by most children.
Myopia Control Glasses: An Option for Children Who Prefer Spectacles
For children who are not ready for contact lenses, specialized myopia control glasses can also help slow progression. Newer spectacle lenses, such as Stellest™ lenses, use advanced optical designs that create peripheral myopic defocus while maintaining clear central vision. This technology helps signal the eye to slow its growth, addressing the underlying mechanism of myopia progression.
Unlike traditional glasses that simply correct blurry vision, myopia control lenses are designed specifically to help reduce axial elongation. Clinical studies have shown that Stellest lenses can significantly slow myopia progression in children while providing comfortable, everyday vision. For some families, these lenses offer a simple and effective option as part of a comprehensive myopia management plan.
Atropine Eye Drops: Reducing Myopia Progression
Atropine eye drops are another option used in myopia management. In low concentrations, these drops can help slow the progression of myopia by reducing the signals that drive excessive eye growth. Studies have shown that low-dose atropine can reduce myopia progression by approximately 50–60% over several years in many children.
Atropine is a non-invasive treatment that is often used as part of a comprehensive myopia management plan. When prescribed and monitored by an eye care professional, it can be a safe and effective way to help control axial elongation and support healthy visual development in children.
Our expert eye care practitioners regularly prescribe atropine as part of a comprehensive myopia management plan. Under professional supervision, atropine drops can be used to slow progression in younger children, either as a standalone treatment or in combination with multifocal or orthokeratology lenses. We also provide ongoing monitoring through follow-up visits to ensure that treatments are working as intended.
Lifestyle Habits to Improve Myopia Control in Children
Pairing myopia treatments with healthy habits can improve the effectiveness of management methods. Parents should encourage at least one hour of outdoor time daily to support distance vision and promote healthy eye growth. Next, children who use screens for entertainment or education must stick to the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Small habits can make a big difference over time.
Every child is unique, which is why we customize our treatment plans to meet each patient’s visual needs. Options such as orthokeratology, multifocal lenses, atropine drops, and myopia control glasses can help slow eye growth while providing clear daily vision. Starting treatment early can play an important role in protecting long-term eye health and reducing the risks associated with progressive myopia later in life.
Partner With Experts to Protect Your Child’s Eye Health
Weston Contact Lens Institute empowers parents with proven myopia-control options for their children. We are here to help you manage your child’s vision and feel confident that you are taking the right steps. If your child is showing signs of myopia, contact us to schedule an examination. We work closely with families to offer useful information and effective treatments that will have a positive impact on your child’s life.
