Myopia Management in Tazewell and Lebanon
Serving southwest Virginia
Is your child squinting at the whiteboard? Holding their phone or tablet just inches from their face? These could be early signs of myopia (also known as nearsightedness), and it’s one of the most common vision concerns we see in kids and teens today.
At ClearSight EyeCare, we offer myopia management for children in Tazewell and Lebanon, Virginia. If you haven’t yet scheduled a comprehensive eye exam with us, now is a great time, especially if your child is showing signs of nearsightedness.
Myopia control is most effective when it’s started early and customized to the individual. Our team combines proven treatments with a thorough understanding of your child’s vision history and needs.
What is myopia?
Myopia is a vision condition where distant objects appear blurry, but nearby objects remain clear. It happens when the eyeball grows too long, or the cornea becomes too curved, preventing light from focusing correctly on the retina.
Myopia typically begins in childhood and tends to worsen as kids grow. Genetics, increased screen time, and not enough time outdoors can all play a role in how quickly nearsightedness progresses.
The importance of starting myopia control early
Left unchecked, myopia doesn’t just mean stronger eyeglasses every year. High levels of myopia significantly increase the risk of conditions like retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy. These risks remain even when your child wears glasses or contact lenses to see clearly.
Childhood is the most critical window for myopia intervention. When progression is slowed early, the long-term risk of serious eye diseases drops significantly. The steps we take today can protect your child’s vision for decades to come.
Our myopia treatment options
We offer several evidence-based treatments to slow myopia progression in children. During a pediatric eye exam, our friendly, knowledgeable team will review your child’s vision history and help determine which approach fits them best.
Stellest® lenses
We’re proud to offer Essilor Stellest® lenses, the first FDA-authorized spectacle lenses proven to slow myopia progression in children. On average, they’ve been shown to slow progression by 71% over two years.¹ Our doctors will build a customized plan, so your child’s Stellest lenses fit both their prescription and their daily routine.
Stellest lenses are typically recommended for children ages 6–12 with myopia, with or without astigmatism. Your child may be a good candidate if:
- They’ve recently been diagnosed with myopia
- Their prescription has been increasing steadily
- They’re too young or not quite ready for specialized contact lenses
MiSight® 1-day contact lenses
MiSight® 1-day lenses are the first and only FDA-approved soft contact lenses proven to slow myopia progression in children ages 8–12. These daily disposable lenses offer more than a clearer view. Along with correcting blurry distance vision, they’re also clinically designed to address the underlying factors that cause myopia to worsen over time.
Backed by the longest continuous soft contact lens study for myopia control, MiSight® 1 day slowed progression by 59% over three years on average.² Forty-one percent of children wearing MiSight® showed no progression at all. Before getting started, your child will need a contact lens exam to get the proper fit and prescription.
Orthokeratology (ortho-k)
Ortho-k uses custom-fitted lenses to gently reshape the cornea overnight while your child sleeps. Kids remove the lenses in the morning and enjoy clear vision throughout the day without glasses or contacts. Ortho-k has been shown to slow myopia progression by 36%–50% compared to standard correction methods.³
Low-dose atropine eye drops
Low-dose atropine drops are an effective way to slow myopia progression. Applied once daily at bedtime, they’re well-tolerated by most children. Side effects, like slight pupil dilation or brief light sensitivity, are possible but typically minor.
Multifocal contact lenses
Multifocal contact lenses are designed with multiple prescription zones built into a single lens, allowing your child to see clearly at a range of distances. By focusing light more evenly across the retina, multifocal lenses may help slow the elongation of the eye that drives myopia progression.
Multifocal glasses
If your child is too young for contacts, multifocal glasses (also called progressives) might be a better fit. While commonly used by older patients, these glasses offer separate lens areas for near, middle, and far vision without the visible separation lines found in bifocals, making them an option for younger users.
Don’t let your child’s vision worsen
Whether you’re exploring myopia control for the first time or reassessing your child’s current treatment, we are ready to help. We’ll get to know your child’s vision history, lifestyle, and long-term goals, and work with you to find an approach that makes sense for your family. Schedule an appointment at ClearSight EyeCare in Tazewell or Lebanon today.