Key Takeaways
- Myopia, also called nearsightedness, means close objects look clear while distant ones look blurry.
- Myopia is most often caused by the eyeball growing too long from front to back, which can continue to happen as your child grows.
- Stellest lenses use H.A.L.T. technology to correct vision and signal the eyes to slow their growth.
- Full-time wear of 12 or more hours a day supports the strongest results.
- Other options include ortho-k, MiSight contacts, and low-dose atropine drops.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with myopia, you may be wondering what can be done to slow the progression of their nearsightedness and protect their long-term vision. At Eye.Q. Optometry, we help Eagle Rock families slow these changes through myopia control options like Stellest lenses.
Stellest lenses are glasses that correct your child’s distance vision while gently signaling the eyes to slow their growth, which can slow myopia progression when worn consistently.
Myopia in Children Explained
Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is when someone can see close-up objects just fine, but distant objects appear blurry. Myopia most often happens when the eyeball grows a little too long from front to back. This means light lands in front of the retina (the back of the eye) instead of directly on it, causing blurry distance vision.
Genetics play a role, so kids with nearsighted parents face a higher risk of developing myopia. Hours of close work, like reading, homework, and screen time, have also been associated with a higher risk. As an optometrist in Eagle Rock can explain, both factors often work together.
Symptoms to Watch For
Kids rarely say their vision looks blurry because they think everyone sees the world the way they do. Instead of telling you they’re experiencing blurry vision, they’ll just adapt. Here are a few common signs of myopia in children to keep an eye out for:
- Squinting to read distant words
- Complaining of frequent headaches or rubbing their eyes a lot
- Holding books or tablets very close to their face
How Stellest Lenses Work
Stellest lenses look like everyday glasses, but they’re designed to correct vision and slow how quickly the eyeball grows.
The clear center corrects distance vision, so your child sees distant objects clearly and comfortably. Around that center sit rings of tiny aspherical lenslets, a design called H.A.L.T. technology. These lenslets create a soft layer of defocus in front of the retina, which is a signal that can tell the eye to slow its front-to-back growth.
Stellest lenses help slow myopia progression, with the end goal of keeping your child’s prescription low.
Why Full-Time Wear Matters
The lenslets can only help while the glasses are on. That’s why consistent wear matters. Your child should wear the lenses for 12 or more hours a day, from breakfast until bedtime.
Research on Stellest Lenses
A research paper on Stellest lenses followed children over 2 years. Those who wore the lenses full-time saw up to 67% slower myopia progression than those who wore standard glasses.
Slower progression means less eyeball growth during the years in which your child’s eyes are growing. That matters beyond just having a lower prescription. Lower myopia in childhood can reduce the risk of high myopia later, which can increase the risk of more serious eye concerns later in life. Myopia control in Los Angeles can support your child’s vision today, protecting their long-term sight.
Other Myopia Control Options
Stellest lenses are 1 of many choices for myopia control. The right fit for your family depends on your child’s age, comfort, and daily routine. Here are a few other options worth discussing with your eye doctor:
- Ortho-k contact lenses worn overnight that reshape the eye’s surface while your child sleeps
- MiSight soft contact lenses worn during the day
- Low-dose atropine eye drops
Our Approach to Myopia Control
Your child’s vision can change quickly during their school years. Yearly kids’ eye exams help catch those shifts early, while there’s still room to slow them. Our team can build a plan around your child’s life, whether that means Stellest lenses, contact lenses, or drops. Every child reads, plays, and uses screens a little differently, so the plan should fit those habits.
Schedule Your Child’s Appointment
At Eye.Q. Optometry, we want to encourage Eagle Rock families ready to take the next step. Book a myopia control consultation today and give your child clear vision now and support for the years ahead.
