You may notice your child squinting to see the board at school or complaining about headaches after a long day. Perhaps they have a tough time playing sports or seem to hold their books and tablets very close to their face. These can be signs of myopia, also known as nearsightedness.
When your child has myopia, you want a solution that does more than just help them see clearly today. The team at Karns Vision Center can help you explore the available options. Stellest lenses are innovative eyeglass lenses designed for children to correct their vision day to day and help slow the progression of myopia.
A New Way to Look at Myopia in Children
What Is Myopia?
Myopia is more than just blurry distance vision: It’s a condition where the eyeball grows too long. This causes light to focus in front of the retina (the back of your eye) instead of directly on it. For children, this elongation can happen quickly as they grow, causing their prescription to get stronger year after year. This is why early myopia management is so important.
What Do Stellest Lenses Do?
Stellest lenses offer a proactive approach. They correct your child’s blurry vision so that they can see, while also addressing the rate of underlying eye elongation. This helps manage your child’s prescription changes over time, supporting their long-term eye health.
How Do Stellest Lenses Work?
These lenses use a unique technology that features a pattern of very small, nearly invisible lenslets. This is part of the innovative technology we use to support your child’s vision. This special design sends 2 different signals to your child’s eye at the same time, helping them see clearly while managing their myopia.
- For clear vision: One zone of the lens has a single, clear prescription. This part allows your child to see distant objects, just like a standard pair of glasses.
- For myopia control: The collection of tiny lenslets creates a second signal that brings light to a focus in front of the retina. This signal helps tell the eye to slow its growth, which is the main reason myopia progresses.
The Difference Between Stellest and Standard Lenses
It helps to understand how Stellest lenses are different from the single vision lenses you might be more familiar with.
Standard Single Vision Lenses
A standard lens has 1 prescription power across its entire surface. Its job is simple: To correct blurry vision so your child can see clearly right now. You can find these in many traditional types of eyewear, but standard single lenses don’t do anything to manage the progression of myopia.
Stellest Lenses
Stellest lenses are built to do 2 jobs at once. They provide your child with clear distance vision while also actively working to slow the rate at which their eyes change. This offers a more preventive way to care for your child’s vision now and for the future.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Stellest Lenses?
These lenses are often recommended for children and teens who have been diagnosed with progressive myopia and are between the ages of 6-12. An eye care professional can determine if they are a good choice during a children’s eye exam, but your child might be a candidate if you notice signs like:
- Frequent squinting to see the whiteboard or TV.
- Complaints of tired eyes or headaches.
- Sitting closer to screens or holding books close to their face.
- Difficulty with activities that require clear distance vision, like sports.
Common Questions About Stellest Lenses
It’s natural to have questions when you consider a new vision option for your child. At our practice, we always want to make you feel comfortable and understood.
Why Is Slowing Myopia Progression Important?
Slowing myopia is about more than just avoiding stronger, thicker glasses. It’s about reducing the risks associated with high myopia later in life. Your eye doctor can discuss the benefits to help you decide if these lenses are the right choice for your family.
Are Stellest Lenses Difficult to Wear?
Your child wears them just like any other pair of glasses. They are designed for daily use, around 10 hours a day, so your child can get the full benefit of the technology at school, at home, or playing outside. It’s recommended that at least 2 of those 10 hours be spent outdoors.
Learn if Stellest Lenses Are Right for Your Child
The only way to know for sure if Stellest lenses are a good fit is through an eye exam. A thorough evaluation can help a professional get a complete picture of your child’s eye health and create a personalized plan.
Unique Care for Your Family
Our eye doctor in Knoxville, Tennessee, can assess your child’s vision and discuss if Stellest lenses are the right step forward. At Karn’s Vision Center, we know that every family is different, which is why we take a comprehensive approach to eye care. Schedule an appointment to learn more about managing your child’s myopia.
