Myopia Management

What is Myopia?

Myopia, more commonly known as nearsightedness, is on the rise in children across the country. In the US, diagnoses of myopia in children have doubled over the course of a single generation, and researchers predict that by 2050 the number of myopic children will climb another 40% beyond today's levels.

Myopia is primarily linked to two factors:

Genetics: A child with one myopic parent has a 1 in 4 chance of becoming myopic. That risk climbs to 1 in 2 if both parents are myopic.

Lifestyle: Children who spend more time reading or on digital devices, and less time outdoors, are more likely to develop myopia and to progress faster.

The good news? Myopia progression can be slowed. At Envision Eyecare, we offer a full range of clinically proven myopia management treatments, and we will work with you to choose the option that best fits your child's age, prescription, and lifestyle.

Why Myopia Management Matters

We once believed the worst part of myopia was blurry vision and stronger glasses each year. We now know there is more at stake.

As myopia progresses, the eye physically elongates, and that elongation increases the lifelong risk of serious eye diseases including macular degeneration, retinal detachment, cataracts, and glaucoma. Recent research shows that any amount of myopia raises these risks, which is why eye care professionals now believe no amount of myopia is safe, and why slowing progression during childhood is so important.

Risk factors for faster progression include:

• Early onset: The younger a child becomes myopic, the higher the risk of significant progression.

• Family history: Children with one or two myopic parents are at greater risk.

• Rapid prescription changes: A large jump in your child's prescription suggests progression is likely to continue.

• Near work: More time spent reading and on screens is associated with faster progression

Your Child's Treatment Options

Every child is different, which is why we offer four proven approaches to myopia management. After a comprehensive evaluation, we will recommend the treatment, or combination of treatments, best suited to your child.

MiSight 1 Day Contact Lenses

MiSight lenses are FDA-approved daily disposable soft contact lenses designed specifically to slow myopia progression in children while providing clear, comfortable vision.

Some parents worry their children won't be able to manage contact lenses, but we find most kids adapt to handling and wearing lenses even faster than adults. In a recent study, over 90% of children said they preferred wearing MiSight lenses to their glasses.

Because MiSight lenses are worn once and thrown away, there are no cleaning or disinfecting routines, and the risk of eye infection is lower than with any other replacement schedule.

Best for: Kids who are active in sports, want freedom from glasses, and are ready for the responsibility of daytime contact lens wear.

Stellest Spectacle Lenses

Not every child is ready for contact lenses, and that's okay. Stellest lenses bring powerful myopia control to something kids already know how to wear: a regular pair of glasses.

Stellest lenses use H.A.L.T. technology, a constellation of 1,021 invisible lens lets light spread across the lens. The center of the lens corrects your child's vision for clear sight all day, while the lenses create an optical signal that slows the elongation of the eye. In clinical studies, Stellest lenses slowed myopia progression by an average of 67% compared to standard single vision lenses when worn at least 12 hours a day.

The lenses are virtually invisible, so Stellest lenses look just like ordinary glasses, and most children adapt within a week.

Best for: Younger children, kids not ready for contact lenses, and families who prefer a glasses-based option.

Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT / Ortho-K)

Corneal Refractive Therapy, also called orthokeratology or ortho-k, uses specially designed rigid lenses worn overnight while your child sleeps. The lenses gently and temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye, so your child wakes up, removes the lenses, and sees clearly all day with no glasses or contacts at all.

Beyond the freedom of lens-free daytime vision, overnight reshaping has been shown to slow the eye elongation that drives myopia progression.

Best for: Kids who want to be completely free of glasses and contacts during the day, especially swimmers and athletes.

Atropine Eye Drops

Low-dose atropine is a prescription eye drop placed in your child's eyes each night before bed. Studies have shown that low-dose atropine can significantly slow myopia progression with minimal side effects.

Atropine does not correct vision on its own, so your child will still wear glasses or contact lenses during the day. It can be used alone or combined with other treatments for added effect.

Best for: Children of any age, including those too young for other options, and as a complement to lens-based treatments.

Lifestyle Habits That Help

Treatment works best alongside healthy visual habits. Research supports two simple lifestyle changes for every child:

More time outdoors. A minimum of 9 to 14 hours of outdoor time per week, or about 2 hours per day, is recommended for school-aged children. Every additional hour of weekly outdoor time is associated with a reduction in myopia risk, and small changes add up: walking to school, playing outside after class, or eating lunch outdoors all count. Just remember hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses; the myopia benefit is still there.

Smarter near work. Encourage a short 1 to 2 minute break every 20 to 45 minutes of reading or screen time, hold books and devices at least 12 inches (ideally 16 inches) from the eyes, and keep the room well lit. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends limiting recreational screen time by age and avoiding screens in the hour before bed.

Take Control of Your Child's Eye Health

Myopia is progressive, but it is also manageable, and the earlier we start, the more we can protect your child's vision for the future. Schedule a myopia evaluation today and we will build a treatment plan tailored to your child.