New Myopia Lens Treatment Offers Kids Improved Vision, Slows Progression
New Myopia Lens Treatment Offers Kids Improved Vision, Slows Progression
A new type of eyeglass lens is making it easier to manage myopia (nearsightedness) in children, helping them see clearly while also slowing vision changes over time.
That matters more than ever. Myopia is growing rapidly among kids. Today, about half of all children have myopia, and experts predict that about half of the world’s population could be nearsighted by 2050.
Myopia may be extremely common, but it can carry serious lifetime risks to eyesight, says Shandi Beckwith, OD, an optometrist at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah. That can include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment.
The condition usually begins in school-age children and often gets worse as they grow. While myopia can be inherited, the current increase in cases is likely due to long periods of reading or screen time and even a lack of time outdoors, according to studies.
A Simpler Way to Treat Myopia: New Lens Advancement
Until recently, physicians had only two options for slowing the progress of myopia in their young patients: special eyedrops or contact lenses. For many busy families, neither is an appealing option.
Now, the Stellest lens offers another option. The special eyeglass lenses are embedded with more than 1,000 “lenslets,” or tiny individual lenses that help focus the central part of a child’s vision and create a slight blur at the periphery.
Normally, the eye focuses light onto the retina to form an image. With myopia, the eye focuses light in front of the retina. As a result, the eye can stretch and become elongated to make up the distance and see more clearly. The Stellest lens brings the focal point forward slightly so that vision is clear and the eye doesn’t constantly strain to adjust focus.
“The Stellest lens is the simplest, most effective option we have,” Beckwith says. “It’s a way to control myopia without adding an extra step to a family’s day. It’s much easier for compliance than remembering a drop or managing contact lens hygiene.”
Research shows that Stellest slows the progression of myopia by 71% over two years, outperforming both drops and contacts, which have shown a 55%–59% reduction over three years, respectively. Slowing the progress of myopia even a little can deliver big rewards—reducing the risk of lifetime complications by 40%.
The lens has been available for many years in other parts of the world, but was only recently approved in the United States. According to Beckwith, it is now "considered to be the standard of care by the World Council of Optometry.”
Stellest lenses come with a six-month warranty, so if a prescription changes in that time, patients can get an updated pair for free. Some vision insurance plans may cover some or all of the costs, though many have not covered the new treatment.
Who Is Eligible for the New Lenses?
While officially studied in patients ages 6 to 12, Stellest has been prescribed for older children as well.
Patient feedback has been positive, says Beckwith, with kids reporting improved vision and no side effects.
The lens fits into any good frame, Beckwith says. “Kids can choose a look they like, and the lenslets are not visually obvious. You really have to look for it.”
Healthy Habits Still Help
In addition to the treatments listed above, families of kids with myopia can help protect vision by:
- Keeping books or screens at least 12 inches from the face
- Spending at least an hour a day outside
- Following the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds
Comprehensive Pediatric Eye Care at the Moran Eye Center
To find out if your child could benefit from the Stellest lens, or if you are concerned he or she may have myopia, schedule an appointment with an expert at the Moran Eye Center today.
The Basics: Vision Screening for Young Children
A majority of children will not develop 20/20 vision until they are four to six years old. During those first few years, what should parents do to make sure their kids maintain healthy vision?
