Myopia Control Options: Glasses, Contacts, or Ortho-K?

Myopia is becoming increasingly common in children and teens. If your child has trouble seeing distant objects clearly, it may be a sign of progressive myopia. Beyond blurry vision, worsening myopia can increase the risk of long-term eye health issues later in life. At Long Beach Family Optometry, we help families choose the right solution based on each child’s vision needs, lifestyle, and age.

Myopia Control Glasses with Essilor Stellest® Lenses

Essilor Stellest® lenses are advanced myopia control glasses that look like regular prescription eyewear but are specially designed to help slow the progression of nearsightedness in children. These lenses correct your child’s distance vision while using innovative lens technology to manage how light is distributed on the retina. By creating a specific optical signal, Stellest® lenses help reduce excessive eye growth, which is a primary cause of worsening myopia.

Benefits of Essilor Stellest® Lenses:

•           Non-invasive and easy for children to wear

•           Ideal for younger children or first-time myopia management patients

•           No contact lens insertion or maintenance required

•           Worn just like everyday glasses

Essilor Stellest® lenses can be an excellent first step in myopia management, especially for children who are not yet ready for contact lenses or prefer glasses as their primary form of vision correction.

Myopia Control Contact Lenses

Soft multifocal contact lenses designed for myopia control correct vision while actively slowing myopia progression. These lenses provide clear central vision while altering peripheral focus to reduce signals that cause the eye to grow longer.

Benefits

•           Effective at slowing myopia progression

•           Comfortable and familiar for many children

•           Better for sports and active routines

For children who are motivated and mature enough to handle contacts, this option offers both vision clarity and myopia management benefits.

Ortho-K (Orthokeratology)

Ortho-K lenses are custom-designed rigid contact lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. By morning, the lenses are removed, and your child can see clearly all day without glasses or contacts. At the same time, Ortho-K has been shown to significantly slow myopia progression.

Benefits

•           Clear vision during the day without eyewear

•           Excellent for sports and active kids

•           One of the most effective myopia control options

Ortho-K is especially popular for children and teens who want freedom from glasses during the day.

Which Myopia Control Option Is Best?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best myopia control option depends on factors such as:

•           Your child’s age

•           Prescription strength and progression rate

•           Lifestyle and activity level

•           Comfort with glasses or contact lenses

A comprehensive eye exam allows your eye doctor to recommend the most effective and practical option for your child.

Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam Today

Myopia control is about more than clearer vision - it’s about protecting your child’s long-term eye health. Whether through specialty glasses, contact lenses, or Ortho-K, early intervention can make a meaningful difference in slowing nearsightedness progression and reducing future risks.

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, contact Long Beach Family Optometry to schedule a consultation to learn more about personalized treatment options. Visit our office in Long Beach, California, or call (562) 553-6600 today.