Myopia management

Myopia management

What is myopia? The layman’s term is “nearsighted”. This means you can see well for “near” and not as well for distance. When myopia occurs in children it is almost always progressive.

​​​​​​​Parents of myopic children often ask if there is anything that can be done to slow down or stop the progression of the child’s myopia. At Factoria Eye Clinic we specialize in strategies proven to slow down or stop your child's eyesight from getting worse. In the past, doctors would advise under-correcting myopia. Unfortunately, more recent studies have shown that this treatment did not work. In fact, wearing a lower power has now been shown to stimulate the eyes to become even more nearsighted. More recent studies are showing that there are 3 options to attempt to slow down the progression of nearsightedness.

1. Corneal reshaping/Orthokeratology

(night time lens)

Orthokeratology is a corneal reshaping process that is currently thought to have the most potential to slow down the progression of nearsightedness. Studies are showing that it slows myopia. Patients wear a re-shaping lens and night and then remove it in the morning—usually needing no glasses or contact lenses during the day. For more information about corneal reshaping click here.

2. Soft dual focus contact lenses

(day time lens)

This type of lens has more than one power in the lens and is worn during the day.

3. Eyeglasses

On September 25, 2025 the FDA has approved the Stellest eyeglass lenses for children ages 6 to 12 to correct myopia and slow its progression. This is big news in the myopia management space in the United States, especially for children who are poor candidates for other myopia interventions like orthokeratology, soft lenses for myopia control or atropine. Stellest lenses have been used internationally since 2020, especially in Europe, Canada, and parts of Asia (notably China) Many eyecare providers outside the US have used Stellest lenses for years with positive outcomes.

The Stellest lens features a clear central zone surrounded by rings of intentional blur. These rings create peripheral light defocus which may help slow eyeball growth (lengthening aka myopia increase) As a parent you may be wondering how to make a decision about what type of myopia control is right for your child.

Here some the things you may want to consider:

1. Tailored recommendations: An optometrist who specializes in myopia control should be able to discuss with you the various myopia control options and give feedback based upon your child’s unique situation which one(s) would suit them best

2. Ongoing monitoring: This specialist should also be monitoring you child regularly (usually at least every 6 months) to determine if the myopia control method(s) that are chosen are working as intended. This usually includes measuring axial length (eyeball length)

3. Consistency matters: With any myopia control option, consistent use is key. Stellest lenses, for example, need to be worn at least 12 hours a day to achieve maximum effect.

Final Thoughts

The FDA approval of Stellest lenses marks a major step forward in the fight against childhood myopia in the United States. Parents now have access to a proven, eyeglasses-based solution to help protect their child’s long-term vision. If you're unsure whether Stellest—or another method—is right for your child, the best first step is a myopia control consultation with an experienced optometrist.