For many parents, it’s unsettling to watch their child’s glasses prescription increase year after year. Nearsightedness, or myopia, often begins in childhood and tends to worsen as the eyes grow. At Eye Associates of New York, we take a proactive, evidence-based approach to help slow that progression and safeguard long-term eye health.
We offer a full range of advanced myopia management treatments—including Stellest® lenses, orthokeratology, and low-dose atropine therapy—to create customized plans that fit each child’s unique needs and lifestyle.
Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea curves too steeply, causing distant objects to appear blurry. Over the past few decades, rates of childhood myopia have risen sharply. While genetics play a role, modern habits also contribute—especially increased screen time, extended near work, and less time spent outdoors.
If left unmanaged, myopia can progress to higher levels, increasing the risk of eye diseases later in life such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration. That’s why early detection and intervention are so important.
At Eye Associates of New York, we offer three leading treatments that have been clinically proven to slow the progression of myopia in children:
Stellest® lenses are specially designed spectacle lenses that do more than correct blurry vision—they help manage how the eye grows.
Each lens uses H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) technology, featuring hundreds of tiny lenslets that guide light in a way that helps slow eye elongation, the main cause of myopia progression.
In clinical studies, children who wore Stellest® lenses full-time experienced up to 67% slower myopia progression compared to standard lenses. These lenses are ideal for children who want a simple, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into daily life.
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight that gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. In the morning, they can see clearly without glasses or contacts during the day.
Ortho-K lenses are an excellent choice for active children and teens who prefer freedom from daytime eyewear. Numerous studies have shown Ortho-K can significantly reduce the rate of myopia progression when worn consistently.
Atropine eye drops, used in very low concentrations, can safely slow down eye growth and reduce myopia progression. This therapy is simple, non-invasive, and often used alongside other treatments like glasses or Ortho-K for enhanced results.
Your child’s optometrist will determine the appropriate dosage and schedule based on their prescription, age, and overall eye health.
No two children are the same, and neither are their eyes. Our doctors perform a thorough myopia control evaluation that includes measuring eye growth, reviewing prescription changes, and discussing lifestyle factors such as screen time and outdoor activity.
We then recommend a tailored treatment plan that may include one or a combination of therapies, along with practical guidance for maintaining healthy vision habits.
Your child may benefit from myopia control if they:
Early intervention often leads to better long-term outcomes.
With modern tools like Stellest® lenses, Ortho-K, and low-dose atropine, myopia no longer has to progress unchecked. These treatments offer children the chance to maintain clearer, more stable vision as they grow.
At Eye Associates of New York, we’re proud to bring our patients the most advanced options in pediatric eye care—and to help every child see a clearer future.
If your child’s prescription seems to increase every year, or they’re struggling to see distant objects, now is the right time to act.
Contact Eye Associates of New York to schedule a comprehensive myopia management evaluation and learn which treatment option is best for your child.
