Myopia Control: Slowing Nearsightedness Before It Gets Worse
If your child's prescription keeps getting stronger every year, you're not alone. Myopia (nearsightedness) is becoming more common in kids across Brooklyn and nationwide. The good news? There are proven ways to slow how fast their vision changes. At Vision Palace Optical on Avenue U in Sheepshead Bay, we offer myopia control options designed to slow that progression.
Myopia control isn't about preventing nearsightedness entirely - it's about managing how quickly it develops. When your child's eyes are growing, their prescriptions often shift every few months. Myopia control technology works by gently reshaping how light focuses on the back of the eye, which slows the elongation of the eyeball. This matters because faster myopia progression increases the risk of serious eye health problems down the road, like retinal detachment or glaucoma.
What Is Myopia Control and Why It Matters for Your Child
Myopia control refers to a range of lens options and treatments designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children ages 6 and up. The key insight is simple: the faster myopia advances during childhood, the higher the eventual prescription strength, and the greater the long-term eye health risk.
Here's what happens with standard glasses or contacts: they correct vision but don't actively slow how the eye grows. A child might need a stronger prescription every six to twelve months. With myopia control solutions, that rate of change slows significantly.
Why does this matter for Brooklyn families? Kids spending hours on schoolwork, phones, and tablets - especially during the winter months indoors - face increased myopia risk. The more time children spend on near-focus tasks without breaks, the faster their eyes tend to lengthen. Myopia control gives their eyes active protection while they're developing.
Stellest Lenses: The Gold-Standard Myopia Control Solution
Stellest lenses by Essilor are the most advanced myopia control option we offer at Vision Palace Optical. These lenses use H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) technology - a pattern of nearly 1,000 microscopic zones embedded throughout the lens.
In Essilor's two-year clinical study, Stellest lenses slowed myopia progression by 67% on average compared with standard single-vision lenses, when worn full-time. Results vary from child to child.
The lenses work around the clock, during every activity - reading, sports, outdoor time, screen time. Your child wears them like regular glasses. There's no special care routine, no fitting appointments for different activities. They just look like regular eyeglasses.
Stellest lenses are available in most prescriptions, including astigmatism correction. They come with all the lens options you might want: Crizal anti-reflective coating to reduce glare, blue light lenses for screen time, or even Transitions photochromic technology if your child spends time outdoors.
Other Myopia Control Options: MiSight 1 day Contact Lenses and Atropine Drops
If Stellest glasses aren't the right fit, we offer two other approaches.
MiSight 1 day contact lenses are daily disposable soft contact lenses FDA-approved to slow the progression of myopia in children who start treatment at ages 8 to 12. Results vary from child to child. Your child wears a fresh pair during the day and throws them away at night, so there is no cleaning routine or lens case to manage. They correct distance vision while their design works to slow how quickly the eye grows. They suit kids who are ready to handle putting in and taking out contacts, and like any contact lens they need a proper contact lens fitting first.
Atropine eye drops are a prescription option. The doctor prescribes the drops and explains how and when to use them, and your child keeps wearing regular glasses or contacts to see clearly. Drops can be a choice for families who would rather not use special lenses, and the doctor monitors your child's prescription at follow-up visits.
We do not offer orthokeratology (overnight corneal reshaping lenses) at Vision Palace Optical. If you have read about it, ask us how it compares with the options above.
Each option starts with an evaluation. We'll assess your child's prescription, lifestyle, comfort level with contacts, and other factors to recommend what works best.
Outdoor Time, Lighting, and Lifestyle Factors
While myopia control lenses are powerful, they work best alongside healthy habits. Research consistently shows that kids who spend more time outdoors - at least two hours daily - have lower myopia progression rates. Natural light exposure triggers the release of dopamine in the eye, which seems to protect against excessive eye growth.
If your child attends school on Avenue U or nearby in Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, or Gravesend, encourage outdoor play before or after school. Even lunch breaks outside help.
Indoors, proper lighting during homework matters too. Dim lighting and glare both strain growing eyes. Position screens at arm's length, and remind your child to take breaks every 20 minutes - the "20-20-20 rule": look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Screen time limits also help, though we know that's easier said than done. If your child needs computer glasses for school tasks, we can fit those with myopia control lens technology built in. Blue light lenses reduce eye strain during long study sessions.
How to Get Started: Eye Exam and Fitting at Vision Palace Optical
The first step is a comprehensive eye exam to establish your child's current prescription, measure their eyes' axial length (how long the eyeball is), and assess overall eye health.
During the exam, Dr. Sheyko or Dr. Shlivko will talk with you and your child about myopia control options, answer questions, and help decide what fits your family's lifestyle and budget. We accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid and MetroPlus Health Plan. Coverage varies by plan - call us or book through Zocdoc to confirm your benefits before your visit.
We're located at 1723 Avenue U in Brooklyn, open Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can schedule an appointment through Zocdoc.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can my child start myopia control? Myopia control is typically recommended for children ages 6 and up who are already nearsighted or showing early signs of myopia progression. The earlier you address it, the more protective benefit your child receives over their developing years. If your child has a family history of nearsightedness, getting an eye exam early is smart.
How much does myopia control cost? Pricing varies depending on which option you choose (myopia control glasses, myopia control contact lenses, or atropine drops) and whether insurance covers part of the cost. We work with most insurance plans to maximize your benefits. Call us at (718) 998-8400 or book through Zocdoc to discuss pricing and coverage before your visit.
Will my child need to wear Stellest lenses forever? Once your child stops growing - usually in their late teens or early twenties - myopia typically stabilizes. At that point, they might transition to standard glasses or contact lenses. The goal is to minimize prescription strength during the critical growth years, which reduces lifelong eye disease risk.
Can myopia control work if my child already has a high prescription? Yes. Myopia control is most effective when started early, but it helps slow progression at any prescription level. Even a substantial slowing of that progression is meaningful for long-term eye health.
Does insurance cover myopia control lenses? Your child's eye exam, and a frame or lens benefit, may be covered depending on your plan. Myopia control lenses and treatments often carry an out-of-pocket portion, and Medicaid plans generally do not cover lens upgrades. Coverage varies by plan. Call us or book through Zocdoc to verify your benefits before your visit.
What if my child is younger than 6? We see children ages 6 and up, so myopia control at Vision Palace Optical starts at age 6. If your child is younger and you're concerned about their vision, ask your pediatrician about a children's eye specialist. Once your child turns 6, we can talk about myopia control at their exam.
Your child's vision is worth protecting now so they can enjoy healthy eyes for life. Myopia control isn't just about clearer vision today - it's about preventing serious eye disease decades from now.
Book your child's comprehensive eye exam at Vision Palace Optical. Book through Zocdoc or call us at (718) 998-8400. We're at 1723 Avenue U in Brooklyn, open Monday through Saturday. We speak English, Russian, and Spanish, and we're here to answer all your questions about myopia control lenses and keeping your child's vision healthy.