If your child was just diagnosed with nearsightedness (myopia), you may have heard that there are now ways to do more than simply update their glasses every year. Myopia control is a group of treatments designed to help slow how quickly a child’s nearsightedness gets worse. At Fort Lauderdale Eye Care and Eyewear, we help Fort Lauderdale families understand these options so they can make a confident, informed choice.
What Is Myopia Control?
Myopia happens when the eye grows too long from front to back, so distant objects look blurry. In many children, the eye keeps lengthening through the school years, which means their prescription keeps climbing. Regular glasses and contact lenses sharpen vision, but they are not designed to change how the eye grows.
Myopia control treatments aim to slow that growth. Why does it matter? Higher levels of myopia later in life are linked with a greater risk of eye health problems such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy. Slowing progression during childhood may help lower those long-term risks, and it can also mean thinner lenses and less dependence on very strong prescriptions as your child grows.
No treatment can promise to stop myopia completely, and every child responds differently. That is why myopia control is always paired with regular follow-up eye exams to measure how well it is working.
The Main Myopia Control Options
Today there are four main approaches eye doctors use. Each has its own strengths, and the best fit depends on your child’s age, prescription, lifestyle and comfort level.
1. Stellest Eyeglass Lenses
Essilor Stellest lenses look like regular glasses, but they use a special lens design to help slow myopia progression while still giving your child clear vision. Stellest lenses are FDA-authorized for slowing the progression of myopia in children. They are a great choice for kids who are not ready for contact lenses or for families who want the simplicity of glasses. For the best results, children need to wear them consistently throughout the day.
2. MiSight 1 day Contact Lenses
MiSight 1 day is a soft, daily disposable contact lens that is FDA-approved to slow the progression of myopia in children who start wearing them between the ages of 8 and 12. A fresh pair is worn each day and thrown away at night, which keeps lens care simple. Many active kids enjoy the freedom of contacts for sports and play. Our team teaches both parents and children how to insert, remove and care for the lenses safely. Learn more about our contact lens services.
3. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Ortho-K uses custom-fitted rigid lenses that are worn only while your child sleeps. Overnight, the lenses gently reshape the front surface of the eye so your child can see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts. Ortho-K lenses are FDA-approved for temporarily correcting nearsightedness, and many eye doctors also use them to help slow myopia progression. Ortho-K requires careful fitting, nightly lens care and regular check-ups, so it works best for motivated families who are comfortable with a consistent routine.
4. Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops
Low-dose atropine is a prescription eye drop, usually given once a day at bedtime. It has been studied for years as a way to slow myopia progression in children. As of this writing, no low-dose atropine drop is FDA-approved for myopia control in the United States, so it is prescribed off-label and typically prepared by a compounding pharmacy. Atropine is sometimes used on its own and sometimes combined with special glasses or contact lenses. Your eye doctor will explain the possible side effects, such as light sensitivity or blurry near vision, and whether it makes sense for your child.
How to Choose the Right Option for Your Child
There is no single “best” myopia control treatment. Instead, we look at the whole picture:
- Age and maturity: Younger children often do well with Stellest glasses or atropine, while older kids may be ready for contact lenses or Ortho-K.
- Prescription and progression: How nearsighted your child is, and how quickly it has been changing, help guide the decision.
- Daily routine: Sports, swimming, screen use and school schedules all play a role.
- Family preference: Some families prefer glasses, some prefer contacts and some want to avoid daytime eyewear altogether.
Healthy habits can help too. Encourage outdoor play in daylight, regular breaks from close-up work and screens, and good lighting for homework. These habits are not a replacement for treatment, but they support your child’s overall eye health.
What to Expect at Fort Lauderdale Eye Care and Eyewear
Every myopia control plan starts with a comprehensive eye exam. We check your child’s prescription, eye health and how their eyes work together. From there, we walk you through the options that fit your child and answer every question you have. Once treatment begins, we schedule follow-up visits to monitor progress and make adjustments when needed.
For children ages 5 to 12, we offer a free virtual myopia control consultation, a no-cost video call where you can learn about the options from home before deciding on next steps. Visit our Myopia Control page to learn more. We also offer a free kids vision screening for ages 5 to 17 as part of our Children’s Vision services. A screening is a helpful first check, but it does not replace a full eye exam. We recommend yearly eye exams for children, especially once myopia has been diagnosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should my child start myopia control?
Myopia control is often started as soon as nearsightedness is diagnosed in childhood, because the eyes tend to change fastest at younger ages. Your eye doctor will recommend the right timing for your child.
Will my child still need glasses?
It depends on the option. Stellest lenses are glasses. MiSight contacts and Ortho-K can provide clear daytime vision without glasses, and atropine is usually paired with glasses or contacts.
Is myopia control safe?
Each option has a strong track record when properly fitted and monitored. Contact lenses and Ortho-K require good hygiene and follow-up care, and atropine can have mild side effects. We review the benefits and risks of each option with you before starting.
How long does treatment last?
Myopia control usually continues through childhood and the teen years, while the eyes are still growing. Regular check-ups help us decide when it is time to adjust or stop.
Schedule Your Child’s Myopia Consultation
If your child is nearsighted, now is a great time to explore your options. Our Fort Lauderdale eye care team is here to help your family make the best choice for your child’s vision today and in the future.
Call or Text 954-763-2842 or request an appointment online.