If your child's glasses prescription gets stronger every year, you have probably wondered whether anything can actually stop it. The good news: yes. Myopia isn't just about needing thicker lenses — the eyeball is physically elongating, and higher myopia raises the lifetime risk of serious eye problems like retinal detachment and macular degeneration. Slowing that growth while a child is young protects their eyes for decades.
Until recently, the main options were contacts or drops. As of 2025 there is also an FDA-authorized eyeglass lens. Here is an honest comparison of all three.
The three proven options at a glance
| MiSight® 1 day | Essilor Stellest® | Low-dose atropine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Daily contact lens | Eyeglass lens | Nightly eye drop |
| FDA status | FDA-approved (2019) | FDA-authorized (2025) | Off-label / compounded |
| Ages studied | 8–12 at start | 6–12 at start | Flexible |
| Slowed progression* | ~59% over 3 yrs | ~71% over 2 yrs | ~50%+ (0.05%) |
| Best for | Kids ready for contacts | Kids who prefer glasses | Add-on or younger kids |
*Average reduction versus standard single-vision lenses in each product's clinical trial. Trials differ in length and design, so these figures are not a direct head-to-head comparison. Results vary by child and depend on consistent wear.
MiSight® 1 day contact lenses
MiSight was the first contact lens to earn FDA approval for slowing myopia, back in 2019. They are soft daily disposables — a fresh pair each morning, nothing to clean — designed for children ages 8 to 12 when treatment begins. In the three-year clinical trial, MiSight slowed the progression of nearsightedness by an average of 59% compared with standard single-vision lenses. They are a great fit for kids who are ready to handle contacts and love being glasses-free for sports and play.
Essilor Stellest® eyeglass lenses
Stellest is the newest option and a genuine milestone: in 2025 it became the first eyeglass lens to earn FDA authorization for slowing myopia progression in children. The lens looks like an ordinary pair of glasses but uses thousands of tiny lenslets to send the eye a signal that slows its growth. It is authorized for children ages 6 to 12 at initiation, and in the US clinical trial it slowed myopia progression by 71% and eye elongation by 53% over two years versus single-vision lenses, when worn as directed. For families whose child prefers glasses, isn't ready for contacts, or is a little younger, Stellest is an excellent path.
Low-dose atropine drops
Atropine is a nightly eye drop in a very low concentration (commonly 0.05%). In the well-known LAMP study, it slowed myopia progression by more than half with a good safety profile. One important point of honesty: atropine is used off-label for myopia — it is prescribed based on strong evidence, but it is not specifically FDA-approved for this purpose. It is often used on its own in younger children or combined with MiSight or Stellest when a child's myopia is progressing quickly.
So which one should you choose?
There is no single "best" treatment — the right one is the treatment that fits your child and that they will actually use every day. A few things guide the decision:
- Age: Stellest is authorized from age 6, MiSight from age 8; atropine can be used across ages.
- Glasses or contacts: a child eager to be glasses-free may thrive with MiSight; one who prefers glasses (or isn't ready for contacts) is a natural fit for Stellest.
- How fast it's progressing: faster progression may call for combining a drop with an optical treatment.
- Daily routine: the most effective treatment is the one worn consistently — comfort and habits matter as much as the numbers.
This is exactly the conversation Dr. Tran has with families at a myopia consultation — weighing your child's prescription, how quickly it's changing, and their lifestyle to land on the right fit, or the right combination.
What if we do nothing? Standard glasses keep vision clear but don't slow the eye's growth, so the prescription typically keeps climbing year over year. Starting management early is what protects long-term eye health — every year of slowed progression counts.
How Aura Eye Center approaches myopia management
Dr. Haley Tran is a myopia management specialist serving the Austin area, and Aura offers all three approaches — MiSight, Stellest, and low-dose atropine. Care starts with a thorough evaluation of your child's prescription, eye health, family history, and rate of progression, then a personalized plan and regular monitoring to make sure it's working. Whether your child prefers glasses or contacts, there is now an FDA-authorized way to help slow things down.
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