Option by option
Myopia control options, one at a time
Each option does a different job and carries a different FDA status. Results vary from child to child, and your doctor explains the risks of each before you decide.
Dual-focus daily contact lenses
Soft lenses worn in the day and thrown away each night. Zones of different focus across the lens are designed to slow eye growth.
Approved by the FDA for children 8 to 12 at the start of treatment
Needs a fitting visit and a handling lesson for child and parent
Risks include eye infection and irritation; the doctor explains them
Myopia-control eyeglass lenses
Glasses with a lens design that changes the focus toward the edges of the lens, worn full time.
One design was authorized by the FDA in 2025 for children 6 to 12 at the start of treatment
No contact lens handling
A choice when lenses or drops do not suit a child
Overnight lenses (orthokeratology)
Firm lenses worn while asleep that reshape the front of the eye, so vision is clear the next day without glasses.
Approved for temporary correction of nearsightedness; slowing myopia is off-label
Higher risk of eye infection than daytime lenses
Needs strict cleaning and regular checks, and is not a fit for every eye
Low-dose atropine eye drops
A very dilute dilating drop given at bedtime. A compounding pharmacy prepares it from the doctor's prescription.
No low-dose atropine drop is FDA-approved for myopia in the US; doctors prescribe it off-label
Can cause light sensitivity and blurry near vision
Plans often do not cover it
Standard glasses or contact lenses
Single-vision lenses that correct blurry distance vision. They do not claim to slow its progression.
The prescription is still checked every visit
For some families this is the right choice
A change of plan is always possible
Why results vary
The same option does not work the same way twice
Children's eyes grow at different rates. With some options a child's eyes grow more slowly, and with others they do not respond. That is why we measure at every visit and talk about whether to continue, change or stop.
Where an option is used off-label, a doctor uses an approved product for a purpose the FDA has not reviewed. We say so, and you decide with the full picture.
- Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, a chemical splash or an eye injury needs care now. Call our office right away or go to an emergency room. If you can't reach us, call 911.
About the options
Which option fits my child?
The doctor decides with you after an evaluation, looking at age, prescription, how it is changing, and what your family can manage every day.
Can options be combined?
Sometimes. Combining options is its own decision with its own questions, and the doctor goes through them with you.
Will my plan pay for myopia control?
It depends on the option and the plan. Lenses and drops are often paid for by the family. We explain what applies before you decide.
Book a myopia evaluation
Pick a time in our booking system, or call and we will find one with you.