If your child's nearsightedness keeps getting worse each year, early treatment can help slow that progression and reduce the risk of future eye disease. Myopia is becoming more common in children, but there are proven options that can protect your child's vision now and for years to come.
Myopia Management in Littleton
Why Myopia Control Matters
Myopia is not just a glasses prescription. When the eye is nearsighted, it is physically longer than it should be. The longer the eye grows, the harder it becomes for your child to see the board at school, play sports comfortably, or stay active without thick lenses. Over time, higher myopia also significantly raises the risk of serious eye disease, including retinal detachment and glaucoma later in life.
The goal of myopia management is to slow axial elongation, the actual growth of the eye, so that the final degree of myopia is as low as possible. Keeping prescriptions lower now means more freedom for your child today and a healthier set of eyes for the decades ahead. We begin every myopia management plan with a comprehensive eye exam to establish a baseline and check overall eye health.
Myopia Treatment Options We Offer
Several proven treatments can slow myopia in children. Our team will help you choose the option that best fits your child's age, lifestyle, and prescription.
MiSight® Daily Contact Lenses
MiSight® daily contact lenses are FDA-approved for myopia control and designed for daily wear by children. Clinical trials showed an average 59 percent reduction in myopia progression. They are a good fit for children who are comfortable with contact lens wear.
Stellest® Spectacle Lenses
Stellest® lenses correct vision in a regular frame while also slowing eye growth. They are a great choice for children who are not ready for contact lenses, requiring no special handling beyond ordinary glasses care.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-k)
Ortho-k uses specially designed overnight contact lenses that gently reshape the cornea while your child sleeps. The result is clear daytime vision with no lenses required during the day, which is especially popular with kids active in sports.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops
Low-dose atropine drops are given once nightly and work by slowing the growth of the eye. They are often used when a child is not a candidate for contact lenses or as a complement to another treatment.
Is My Child a Myopia Candidate?
Your child may be a good candidate for myopia management if any of the following apply:
- A nearsighted child whose prescription is increasing each year.
- A child diagnosed with myopia before age 10.
- A family history of high myopia.
- A child who spends most of the day indoors or on screens.
- Concern about long-term eye health risk from worsening myopia.
How We Track Progress
At each visit, we measure axial length, the physical length of the eye. Measuring the length of the eye lets us see whether treatment is slowing myopia, even before prescription changes become obvious. This gives your family a clearer picture of whether the current plan is working and helps us make adjustments earlier rather than later.
Regular follow-up visits, typically every six months, are an important part of medical vision care. If the prescription stabilizes, we may reduce treatment intensity. If myopia continues to progress, we can step up the plan. Staying on top of this now helps protect your child's vision for the long term.
What the First Visit to Active Eyes Involves
Here is what to expect at your child's first myopia management appointment:
- Full eye exam to assess current myopia and overall eye health.
- Axial length measurement to establish a baseline.
- Discussion of treatment options and your child's daily routine.
- Fitting for lenses or a prescription for drops if starting treatment.
- Follow-up schedule set, typically every six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
We typically start at age 6 and up, though the right time depends on the rate of prescription change and the child's maturity for contact lens wear if that option is chosen.
No. Myopia management slows progression and reduces the final amount of nearsightedness, but it does not reverse the prescription the child already has.
MiSight® lenses have shown an average of 59 percent reduction in myopia progression in clinical trials. Ortho-k and low-dose atropine show similar results in peer-reviewed studies, though individual results vary.
Stellest® spectacle lenses correct and control myopia in a standard frame with no contact lens handling required. Low-dose atropine drops are also a non-lens option.
We typically manage myopia through the late teen years while the eye is still growing. Once the prescription stabilizes, treatment is usually discontinued.
Start Myopia Management in Littleton
At Active Eyes, your Littleton eye doctor team offers MiSight®, Stellest®, ortho-k, and atropine options for children with worsening nearsightedness. We serve families in Littleton and the nearby foothill communities. See our hours and location to plan your child's appointment.