What is myopia?
Myopia – often referred to as nearsightedness – is a health condition that occurs when the eyeball becomes too long and causes light rays to focus incorrectly, making distance vision blurry. More than 40% of Americans have myopia and that number is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among school-aged children.
Our practice is excited to offer an innovative approach to managing myopia through CooperVision’s Brilliant Futures Myopia Management Program. The cornerstone of this program is MiSight 1 day contact lenses – the first and only soft contact lenses specifically designed for myopia control and FDA-approved to slow its progression in children, aged 8-12 at initiation of treatment. Age-appropriate children can apply the daily wear, single use contact lenses in the morning, wear them for the recommended 10 or more hours per day, then dispose of them in the evening.
CooperVision conducted a rigorous multi-year, multi-country study to show how the MiSight 1 day contact lenses affected myopia progression when initially fit on children 8-12 years old. After 3 years, the study concluded that the lenses effectively slowed myopia progression by an average of 59% and slowed the rate at which the eye lengthens by an average of 52%, compared to the control group. After 6 years, nearly one in four eyes originally fit with MiSight 1 day had no progression of myopia.
We are also proud to offer Essilor’s Stellest lenses. They are an innovative spectacle lens designed to both correct vision and help slow the progression of myopia in children.
In 2025, these lenses received FDA authorization after clinical studies demonstrated their safety and effectiveness for managing myopia in children. Unlike traditional glasses that only correct vision, Stellest lenses are specifically engineered to help control how quickly myopia worsens over time.
Clinical research has shown that Stellest lenses can:
– Slow myopia progression significantly compared to standard single-vision lenses by 71%.
– Reduce the rate of eye growth associated with worsening nearsightedness by 53%.
– Provide a safe, non-invasive treatment option for children, especially those who are not ready for contact lenses.
Myopia is more than just needing stronger glasses each year. As it progresses, it can increase the risk of serious eye health conditions later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
Starting myopia management early can make a meaningful difference in your child’s long-term vision and eye health. If you are interested in learning more about myopia management with MiSight contact lenses or Stellest lenses in glasses for your child, call us today.