When a child is nearsighted (has myopia), their eye is slightly longer than normal from front to back. This elongation causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, making distant objects appear blurry.
With increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity, myopia has become increasingly common in children. Left unmanaged, myopia can progress and lead to a higher risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, which can be up to 20 times more likely in individuals with high myopia.
What Is Myopia Management?
Myopia management refers to treatments that aim to slow the progression of nearsightedness and reduce long-term risks to eye health. Three of the leading methods include:
1. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
- Special contact lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea.
- In the morning, the lenses are removed, allowing clear vision all day without the need for glasses or daytime contacts.
- The reshaping also sends a signal to the eye to slow down elongation, helping manage myopia progression.
2. Multifocal Soft Contact Lenses
- These FDA-approved daily disposable lenses are designed to slow the growth of the eye.
- Traditional multifocal lenses placed near vision in the center with distance correction in the outer rings.
- The new design reverses this: distance vision is in the center, with reading correction in concentric outer rings.
- This innovative layout also helps signal the eye to stop lengthening.
The first FDA-approved lens for myopia control in children is called MiSight®.
3. Essilor Stellest eyeglass lens
- Essilor Stellest lenses slow down myopia progression by 67% on average compared to single-vision lenses (when worn 12 hours a day).
- 2 out of 3 children wearing Stellest lenses achieved stable vision correction after the first year.
- After one year, 9 out of 10 children wearing Stellest lenses had eye growth similar to or slower than non-myopic children.
- Stellest lenses feature H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) technology.
- Each lens contains 1,201 aspherical lenslets arranged across 11 concentric rings.
- The lenslets create a zone of defocused light in front of the retina, signalling the eye to slow down axial elongation (eye growth).
- The H.A.L.T. technology covers the entire lens surface, providing:
Myopia control in all gaze directions
Fewer frame restrictions
Consistent visual comfort and effectiveness
Why Early Detection Matters
Early detection is key. Annual eye exams help identify whether your child is at risk for myopia or already experiencing progression. The earlier myopia is detected, the more effective management strategies can be.
Partnering With You for Lifelong Vision
At Urban Optique & Eyecare, Dr. Sheryl Simms is committed to supporting clear, healthy vision at every stage of life. Through proactive myopia management, we aim to preserve your child’s sight and help prevent the development of vision-threatening eye problems in adulthood.
If you are in the Chandler or Gilbert area and would like to learn more about how myopia management can benefit your child, please don’t hesitate to contact Urban Optique & Eyecare. Our team is here to answer your questions and provide expert care tailored to your family’s needs.
