Myopia Management
Myopia, or nearsightedness, makes distant objects look blurry. It often begins in childhood and can increase as the eye grows. Higher levels of myopia are linked to a greater risk of eye problems later in life, including retinal detachment.
Myopia management aims to slow progression while helping your child see clearly. Results vary, and no treatment can guarantee that myopia will stop getting worse.
How we choose a treatment
We review your child’s prescription and how it has changed, age, family history, and eye health to help decide whether treatment is appropriate. Options include:
Stellest myopia control eyeglasses. We offer Essilor Stellest lenses, which correct myopia and help slow its progression. FDA has authorized these lenses for children who are 6 to 12 years old when treatment begins, with or without astigmatism. We will check whether your child’s prescription and needs fit the lens’s intended use.
Low-dose atropine eye drops. These prescription drops may help slow progression in some children. Evidence and response vary with the concentration and the child. Possible side effects include light sensitivity, near blur, and an allergic reaction. Atropine is used off-label for myopia in the United States, meaning it is not FDA-approved for this purpose.
Soft multifocal contact lenses. Selected lens designs can correct vision and help slow myopia progression. The doctor will assess whether your child can wear and care for contact lenses safely.
Orthokeratology or Ortho-K. Specially fitted contact lenses worn overnight temporarily reshape the cornea to improve daytime vision and may help slow myopia progression. Overnight lens wear carries a risk of infection and requires careful cleaning and follow-up.
Regular follow-up visits help us check vision, eye health, and response to treatment. We will recommend a follow-up schedule based on your child’s needs.
Healthy habits
Encourage time outdoors each day, with sunscreen and UV-blocking sunglasses. Outdoor time can lower the chance of developing myopia; it should not replace prescribed treatment once myopia is present. Take regular breaks from prolonged close-up work.
To ask about myopia management, call 586-939-1122.
Sources
FDA — Eyeglass lenses to slow pediatric myopia
FDA’s September 25, 2025 authorization of Essilor Stellest lenses, including age at the start of treatment and the myopia indication.
AAPOS — Myopia and treatment of myopia in children
https://aapos.org/glossary/myopia-and-treatment-of-myopia-in-children
Overview of treatment choices, atropine’s off-label use and possible side effects, outdoor habits, and follow-up.
National Eye Institute — Nearsightedness
https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/nearsightedness-myopia
Myopia symptoms, childhood progression, outdoor time, and the eye-health risks associated with high myopia.
National Eye Institute — Multifocal contact lenses slow myopia progression in children
Clinical-trial evidence for selected multifocal lens designs; published August 11, 2020.
National Institutes of Health — US trial of low-dose atropine
A July 13, 2023 report explaining that 0.01% atropine did not outperform placebo in this US trial, underscoring why treatment effects should not be presented as a single guaranteed percentage.
CDC — About contact lens types
https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/about-contact-lens-types.html
Ortho-K’s temporary effect on vision and the need to follow a prescribed wearing schedule; overnight-wear safety considerations.
Sources checked October 1, 2026.