What Is Myopia Management? A Parent’s Guide to Slowing Nearsightedness

If your child’s prescription keeps getting worse, you may have heard the term “myopia management.” But what does it actually mean—and can it help?

Myopia (nearsightedness) is becoming increasingly common in children. If left unmanaged, it can progress and increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life.

At EYE Invision, we provide advanced myopia management treatments to slow progression and protect your child’s long-term vision.

What is myopia management?

Myopia management refers to a group of treatments designed to slow down the progression of nearsightedness (myopia) in children and young adults.

Unlike traditional glasses or contact lenses—which simply correct blurry vision—myopia management focuses on addressing how the eye grows over time. As myopia progresses, the eye becomes longer, increasing the risk of serious eye conditions later in life.

The goal of myopia management is not just clearer vision today, but protecting long-term eye health by reducing how quickly a child’s prescription worsens.

Why myopia is a problem long-term

Retinal detachment
Glaucoma
Macular degeneration
An increase dependence on glasses / contact lenses

How myopia management works

Myopia management works by using specialized treatments that influence how light focuses on the retina, helping to slow the eye’s growth and reduce progression.

Common approaches include:

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Specially designed lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea. During the day, patients can see clearly without glasses or contacts, while also helping slow myopia progression.

Stellest™ Lenses

Stellest lenses are advanced eyeglass lenses designed specifically for myopia control in children. Unlike standard glasses, they use specialized technology to create a unique optical signal that helps slow the progression of nearsightedness.

They are worn like regular glasses, making them a great option for children who may not be ready for contact lenses.

Specialty Soft Contact Lenses

These lenses are designed differently than standard contacts to help control how light enters the eye, which can reduce the rate of worsening vision.

Atropine Eye Drops

Low-dose medicated eye drops may be used in some cases to slow myopia progression, especially in younger children.

While no treatment can completely stop myopia, these methods have been shown to significantly reduce how quickly it worsens.

Not sure which option is best? Dr. Anh Do will recommend the most appropriate treatment based on your child’s age, prescription, and lifestyle.

👉 Learn more about our Myopia Control services in Orlando

Which Myopia Control Option Is Best?

🔹 Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Best for:

Active kids (sports, swimming)
Families wanting freedom from daytime glasses
Moderate to higher prescriptions

Pros:

Clear vision all day without glasses
Strong myopia control effect
Great for active lifestyles

Considerations:

Requires overnight lens wear
Daily cleaning and care routine

🔹 Stellest™ Lenses (Myopia Control Glasses)

Best for:

Younger children
Kids not ready for contact lenses
Families wanting a simple, low-maintenance option

Pros:

Worn like regular glasses
No contact lenses needed
Easy to start and maintain

Considerations:

Glasses must be worn consistently
Less freedom compared to Ortho-K

🔹 Specialty Soft Contact Lenses

Best for:

Older children comfortable with contacts
Families wanting a daytime contact lens option

Pros:

Easy transition from regular contacts
Effective myopia control
No overnight wear

Considerations:

Requires daily wear and hygiene
Not ideal for all ages

🔹 Atropine Eye Drops

Best for:

Younger children
Combination therapy with other treatments

Pros:

Simple nightly drop
Can be combined with other treatments

Considerations:

Does not correct vision (glasses still needed)
Requires ongoing monitoring

🟦 ORTHO-K (highlight this one)

⭐ Most Popular

✔ Overnight lenses

✔ No daytime glasses

✔ Best for sports

✔ Strong myopia control

👉 Button: Learn More

🟩 STELLEST GLASSES

✔ Worn like regular glasses

✔ Great for younger kids

✔ Easy to use

✔ No contacts needed

🟨 SOFT CONTACTS

✔ Daily wear lenses

✔ Good for older kids

✔ Familiar option

✔ Effective control

🟧 ATROPINE DROPS

✔ Simple nightly drops

✔ Good for younger children

✔ Can combine with other treatments

🔑 Key Takeaway

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The most effective approach is a customized plan based on your child’s specific needs and lifestyle.

Not sure which option is right for your child?

👉 Schedule a Myopia Control Evaluation & we’ll guide you through the best options.

How do I know if I or my child has myopia?

There are multiple signs that a child is having difficulty seeing that include:

Yearly progression of myopia (nearsightedness)
Poor distance vision
Frequent headaches or blurry vision
Constantly rubbing the eyes
Poor comfort or vision with contact lenses or glasses
Poor focus and visual tracking
Chronic redness or tearing of the eyes
Forgetfulness with contact lens care (sleeping in contacts, not cleaning contact lenses).
Sitting too close to the TV
Want or need freedom from glasses or contact lenses
Active lifestyle (sports, exercise, going out)
Progressing or worsening vision

FAQs

Is it permanent? No, the eye retainers do not cause a permanent change in the shape of the cornea. The advantage of the non-permanent change is, if there is a change in your or your child’s prescription, a new retainer can be designed to accommodate for this change.
Why not LASIK for my child? The purpose of Laser surgery for the eyes is to give good vision, not slow down myopia. For young patients, as the prescription tends to get progressively worse each year, Laser surgery is not recommended. The purpose of the Eye retainers is to slow down myopia & an additional benefit is having good vision. As such, it is recommended for any age, but especially recommended for children.
How safe are wearing retainers overnight? Wearing any type of contact lens or retainer will have a risk of infection. However, because the retainers are worn at home & with the presence of an adult, the risks of infections or other types of complications are minimal. In addition, proper cleaning, wearing & replacement will keep eye complications to a minimum.
How do I clean the lenses? We often a rub, rinse & store solution specifically made for retainers. Ask your eye doctor for a recommended solution. This link will take you to a more detailed lens cleaning guide.
Do you need to sleep with the retainers for it to work? Yes! The retainers are a corneal reshaping technology meant to provide vision correction at night. The “sleep therapy” / night lenses holds the retainers in place to provide subtle reshaping to your child’s eyes.
What do I do if my child loses or breaks the retainer? Let us know as soon as you can. A new retainer will need to be ordered, but in the meantime, we can provide soft contact lenses to wear.
What happens if you forget to wear the retainer? Your child’s vision will go back to his / her original prescription. However, this is a gradual process. Depending on the child, we would recommend to wear during the school day or we can provide soft contact lenses to wear; then resume wearing the retainers during sleep.

If you’re concerned about your child’s vision, schedule a consultation to explore your options.

Schedule Consultation

Call Us

Text Us