Which option slows myopia the most?

Studies show strong results for each option. In a 2023 review of seven randomized trials, Ortho-K slowed the eye’s growth by about half over two years; in the two-year study the FDA reviewed, Stellest lenses slowed progression by 71% and eye growth by 53%. Those studies measured different children in different ways, so the numbers don’t rank the options. The winner for your child is the one their eyes qualify for and their life sustains.

Can we start with the easiest and escalate?

Yes — plans are sequenced all the time. What we don’t do is wait untreated while deciding.

What if my child hates the first choice?

We switch. The program is four tools deep precisely so no child is stuck.

Which myopia treatment suits a younger child?

Low-dose atropine drops and Stellest glasses suit many younger children, since neither asks a child to handle contact lenses. Atropine is one drop at bedtime, with glasses still worn for seeing. Stellest glasses are FDA-authorized for children 6 to 12 when treatment starts, and FDA notes they can fill the gap for 6- and 7-year-olds and for children who are unable to wear contacts. A myopia-control contact lens is FDA-approved for ages 8 to 12, and like Ortho-K it needs a steady routine with clean hands; see what age kids can start Ortho-K.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bijan Cohenmehr, OD Last reviewed October 27, 2026

Choosing a Myopia Treatment

The best option is the one your child will actually live with.

All four tools in the program earn their slot. The choosing is about your child: their eyes’ measurements, their routines, their sports, their tolerance for lenses or drops. Here’s the honest comparison we walk families through.

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Four paths through a park, one child deciding

Nights: Ortho-K or atropine drops
Days: Stellest glasses or multifocal contacts
Decider: Measurements + personality
Changeable: Plans can switch or combine

The comparison

Four tools, told straight.

Ortho-K — the nighttime reshaper: Lenses worn in sleep; glasses-free days. Loves: athletes, swimmers, kids embarrassed by glasses. Asks: a consistent nightly routine and clean hands. Currently $1,500 total with follow-ups.
Low-dose atropine — the simplest ask: One drop at bedtime; glasses still worn for seeing. Loves: younger kids, lens-averse kids, families wanting minimum friction. Asks: consistency and monitoring visits.
Stellest — control inside ordinary glasses: Full-time spectacle wearers keep their routine; the lens design does the slowing. Loves: kids who already wear glasses happily. Asks: genuinely consistent wear time.
Multifocal soft contacts — daytime control: Familiar disposable-lens routine with a control profile built in. Loves: contact-ready kids who want daytime lenses. Asks: maturity with hygiene and schedules.
Combinations: When measurements justify it, atropine can be paired with an optical option; the data makes that decision.

How we decide

The consultation does the sorting.

Maps and measurements rule options in or out first
Lifestyle interview does the rest: sports, sleep, screens, squeamishness
Follow-ups verify the choice is actually slowing the curve
Switching options later is normal, not failure

Book the consultation

Common questions

Choosing a treatment, answered.

Anything else, call the office at 310-828-2010.

Studies show strong results for each option. In a 2023 review of seven randomized trials, Ortho-K slowed the eye’s growth by about half over two years; in the two-year study the FDA reviewed, Stellest lenses slowed progression by 71% and eye growth by 53%. Those studies measured different children in different ways, so the numbers don’t rank the options. The winner for your child is the one their eyes qualify for and their life sustains.
Yes — plans are sequenced all the time. What we don’t do is wait untreated while deciding.
We switch. The program is four tools deep precisely so no child is stuck.
Low-dose atropine drops and Stellest glasses suit many younger children, since neither asks a child to handle contact lenses. Atropine is one drop at bedtime, with glasses still worn for seeing. Stellest glasses are FDA-authorized for children 6 to 12 when treatment starts, and FDA notes they can fill the gap for 6- and 7-year-olds and for children who are unable to wear contacts. A myopia-control contact lens is FDA-approved for ages 8 to 12, and like Ortho-K it needs a steady routine with clean hands; see what age kids can start Ortho-K.