Myopia Management for Kids in Lexington, KY
Is your child’s glasses prescription getting stronger every year? Nearsightedness (myopia) in children often keeps changing as they grow, and a higher prescription can mean more risk to eye health later in life. Myopia management is care designed to slow that change, not just correct blurry distance vision.
At My Vision Care in Lexington, Dr. Ron Haddad, OD, offers several options for kids, including overnight ortho-k lenses, MiSight daily contact lenses, Stellest glasses lenses, and low-dose atropine drops. We’ll start with children’s eye exams in Lexington and explain each option in plain language so your family can choose what fits.
What Is Myopia and Why It Matters
Myopia, or nearsightedness, means a child can see close things clearly but far things look blurry. It usually happens when the eye grows a little too long from front to back. Children’s eyes keep growing, so myopia often gets worse through childhood and the teen years.
Glasses or regular contacts help a child see clearly, but they do not slow the eye’s growth. Higher levels of myopia are linked to a greater chance of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and damage to the central retina (myopic maculopathy). Slowing progression is the goal of myopia management. No treatment can promise a specific result for an individual child.
Who It's For: Signs to Watch For
Myopia management may be worth discussing if your child:
- Squints to see the board, TV, or things far away
- Sits very close to screens or holds books close
- Complains of headaches or tired eyes after school or reading
- Needs a stronger prescription at each yearly exam
- Has one or two nearsighted parents (myopia often runs in families)
- Was recently prescribed their first glasses for distance
Many school-age children may be candidates, depending on the option and their prescription. Early evaluation gives more time to act. The only way to know what’s right is an eye exam with the doctor.
Our Myopia Management Options
There is no single best choice. The right option depends on your child’s age, prescription, comfort with lenses, and your family’s routine. Dr. Haddad will go over which options could suit your child.
Ortho-k (Overnight Lenses)
How it works: Custom-fitted firm contact lenses are worn while your child sleeps. They gently reshape the front surface of the eye (the cornea) overnight, so many children can see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts. These are one of our specialty contact lenses in Lexington. Studies have shown ortho-k may slow myopia progression in children on average, though results vary from child to child.
Good to know: The effect is temporary. If lenses are stopped, the cornea goes back to its original shape and nearsightedness returns. Lenses are worn nightly and need careful cleaning and handling. Learn more about contact lens fitting in Lexington.
May suit: Kids who are active or play sports, don’t like wearing glasses, or can take responsibility for nightly lens care with a parent’s help.
MiSight 1 day Contact Lenses (Daytime Lenses)
How it works: MiSight are soft, daily disposable contact lenses worn during the day and thrown away each night. Concentric rings in the design change how light focuses on the retina while correcting distance vision. See our contact lens fitting in Lexington page for how fittings work.
Good to know: MiSight 1 day is FDA-approved to correct nearsightedness and slow its progression in children who meet certain age and prescription criteria. In the study behind approval, children wearing MiSight on average had less increase in nearsightedness than children in regular soft lenses. The long-term benefit beyond the study is not known. Younger children may need practice with insertion and removal, and our team will teach you both.
May suit: Children who are ready for contacts, and families who like a fresh pair every day with nothing to clean.
Stellest Lenses (Glasses)
How it works: Stellest are specially designed eyeglass lenses with a pattern of tiny lens segments across the surface. The design corrects distance vision while changing how light focuses in front of the retina, which is meant to slow eye growth.
Good to know: Clinical studies have shown less myopia progression and less eye lengthening than regular single-vision glasses, but results vary. Children need to wear them all waking hours for the best effect. No contact lens handling is needed.
May suit: Children who aren’t ready for or don’t want contacts, and families who want the simplest routine.
Low-Dose Atropine Drops
How it works: Low-dose atropine is an eye drop that may help slow how fast myopia progresses in children. It is prescribed by the doctor after an exam, and your child’s eyes and progress are monitored over time.
Good to know: Results vary from child to child, and atropine does not by itself correct vision, so glasses or contacts may still be needed. Dr. Haddad will explain what to expect and any possible side effects.
May suit: Children for whom the doctor recommends a drop-based approach, or as part of a combined plan.
Which One Is Right?
Dr. Haddad will look at your child’s age, prescription, astigmatism, lifestyle, and comfort level. In some cases a different or combined approach may be discussed. If your child’s eyes aren’t a fit for one option, there may be another that is.
What to Expect at Your Child's First Myopia Visit
- A comprehensive children's eye exam to check vision, eye health, and your child's current prescription.
- Measurements of the eyes to help the doctor understand your child's nearsightedness and track it over time.
- A conversation about your child's habits, such as screen use, reading, and time outdoors, plus family history.
- A talk about which options could suit your child, with time for your questions and your child's.
- A plan for follow-up visits to check how your child is doing. Myopia management is ongoing care, not a one-time fix.
If your child will be trying contact lenses, our team will teach them and you how to handle them safely.
Myopia Management Questions, Answered
No. There is no cure for myopia. These treatments aim to slow how fast it gets worse in children, and results are different for every child. Your child will still need vision correction, and ortho-k, MiSight and Stellest also provide it.
Generally, the sooner myopia is found and managed, the more time there is to slow it. Each option has its own age and prescription guidelines, and Dr. Haddad will tell you what applies to your child.
Contact lenses are a medical device and need good hygiene and follow-up. Children who are responsible and supported by parents often do well. Any contact lens carries some risk of eye infection, which is why proper cleaning, handling, and regular check-ups matter. We’ll teach you how.
Myopia usually keeps changing through childhood and the teen years, so treatment is generally continued until eye growth slows, which the doctor will monitor. It’s not possible to give a set timeline for every child.
Coverage varies by plan, and we can’t promise any plan covers it. Most vision insurances accepted. Call or text us and our team can talk through your child’s options and answer questions before you book.
Don't Wait for the Next Stronger Prescription
Book your child’s eye exam with Dr. Haddad and find out which myopia management option could fit.
Most vision insurances accepted.
Results vary. Myopia management does not cure nearsightedness. Eligibility depends on an eye exam.
