The Fitting Process for Stellest Glasses
Understanding If Stellest Glasses Are Right for Your Child
Stellest lenses use special technology to provide clear central vision while creating myopic defocus in the peripheral zones to help slow eye growth. This design works to slow down myopia progression in children whose nearsightedness is getting worse over time. The lenses correct vision just like regular glasses while also managing the lengthening of the eyeball that causes myopia to worsen.
While these lenses are designed to slow myopia progression, results vary from child to child. Myopia often continues to progress even with treatment, and the goal is to slow the rate of change and reduce future risk, not to stop myopia completely or reverse existing nearsightedness.
Studies show that when worn consistently, these lenses may reduce how quickly a child's prescription increases, though individual results vary based on factors like age, baseline myopia, and wearing time. Our eye doctor will explain how this technology works and what results you might expect based on your child's individual situation.
Children with progressing myopia are commonly considered for Stellest lenses, with much of the research focused on school-age children. We usually recommend these glasses for kids whose prescriptions are changing significantly or who are at high risk for rapid progression. Children who spend a lot of time doing close-up work or have a family history of nearsightedness may also be good candidates.
The most successful outcomes occur when children wear their glasses for at least 12 hours every day. We will assess your child's age, prescription changes, daily habits, and ability to wear glasses consistently before recommending Stellest lenses.
Suitability also depends on your child's specific prescription range, amount of astigmatism, eye health, and how well the eyes work together. Some children with certain eye conditions may need individualized treatment decisions. Older children and teens may still be excellent candidates based on their progression pattern and examination findings.
If you notice your child squinting frequently, sitting very close to the television, or complaining about not seeing the board at school, their myopia may be progressing. Headaches after reading or screen time may indicate vision changes, though these symptoms can have multiple causes and we will evaluate thoroughly to determine the right solution. Holding books or devices very close to their face is another common red flag.
- Prescription changes of half a diopter or more each year
- One or both parents with moderate to high myopia
- Age between 6 and 12 when eye growth is most active
- Difficulty seeing distant objects that were clear before
Beyond Stellest glasses, we may talk about other ways to manage myopia progression in children. Orthokeratology involves special contact lenses worn overnight to reshape the cornea temporarily. Multifocal soft contact lenses are another option for children who are responsible enough to handle daily lens care.
Low-dose atropine eye drops have also shown promise in slowing myopia progression and may be considered in specific cases. We will help you weigh the benefits and challenges of each option to find what fits best with your child's lifestyle and your family's preferences.
- Orthokeratology carries a risk of eye infection and requires strict lens hygiene, avoiding water exposure with lenses, and immediate evaluation for pain, redness, light sensitivity, or reduced vision
- Multifocal contact lenses also require careful hygiene and regular follow-up to monitor eye health
- Low-dose atropine may cause side effects including light sensitivity, difficulty focusing up close, or allergic reactions, and is off-label in many settings requiring compounding and close monitoring
- Each option has specific benefits and risks that we will review based on your child's examination findings and your family's preferences
Preparing for Your Stellest Fitting Appointment
Please bring your child's current glasses if they have them, along with any previous prescription records you can access. We also recommend bringing a list of any medications your child takes and information about their daily activities and hobbies. If your child has vision insurance, bring your insurance card so we can verify coverage and benefits.
- Current eyeglasses and any spare pairs
- Previous eye exam records or prescription history
- Vision insurance information and identification
- List of activities your child does regularly
Before we can fit Stellest lenses, we need to perform a comprehensive eye examination to measure your child's current prescription accurately. In some cases, we may use special drops to relax the focusing muscles for the most accurate measurement. We will check eye health, test how well the eyes work together, and often measure axial length when available to help track progression over time. These baseline measurements help us track changes over time and determine if Stellest is the right choice.
We may also take photos of the back of the eye and sometimes measure corneal shape if considering contact lens options to establish a complete record. All of these tests are painless and take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
Accurate measurements are critical for Stellest lenses to work correctly. We measure the distance between your child's pupils as accurately as possible, often taking monocular measurements for each eye, to ensure the optical centers of the lenses align properly with their eyes. We also measure where the pupil sits in relation to the bottom of the frame, since Stellest lenses need specific vertical positioning.
The frame size and how it sits on your child's face affect lens performance, so we check the bridge fit, temple length, and overall frame width. The position of the frame on the face, including the tilt and distance from the eyes, can also affect how the lenses perform, so we check these parameters carefully. We take our time with these measurements because even small errors may reduce how well the lenses control myopia.
Not every frame works well with Stellest technology. We help you select frames that are the right size and shape to hold these specialized lenses properly. The frames need to sit stable on the face without sliding down the nose, and they should be wide enough to accommodate the full lens design.
- Frames that sit securely without constant adjustment
- Appropriate size to ensure lenses cover the full field of vision
- Durable materials that withstand daily wear by active children
- A style your child likes so they will want to wear them
The Step-by-Step Fitting Process
Once your child's glasses arrive, we carefully check that the lenses are positioned exactly as prescribed. The treatment zones in Stellest lenses must align precisely with your child's pupils when they look straight ahead. We use specialized equipment to verify that the optical centers match the measurements we took during the initial appointment.
If anything is off by even a millimeter or two, we make adjustments to the frame or order new lenses if necessary. Proper positioning is essential for both clear vision and effective myopia control.
We confirm that the distance between the lens centers matches your child's pupil distance as accurately as possible. This measurement ensures that your child looks through the correct part of each lens. We also verify the height of the optical center, measuring from the bottom of the frame to the center of the pupil.
Stellest lenses require precise vertical alignment because the myopia control zones are designed with specific geometry. We check these measurements with your child wearing the glasses in their natural head position.
We adjust the nose pads and temples so the glasses sit comfortably and stay in the correct position throughout the day. The frames should not pinch behind the ears or leave marks on the nose. We make sure the glasses do not slide down when your child looks down or moves around.
- Temples adjusted to hold the frame steady without pressure
- Nose pads positioned to distribute weight evenly
- Frame angle tilted slightly to match facial contours
- No gaps between the frame and the face that allow the glasses to shift
When looking through Stellest lenses for the first time, your child should have clear, sharp vision in the center when looking straight ahead. The peripheral zones may look slightly different, but this is normal and part of how the lenses work. We have your child read an eye chart and look at objects at various distances to confirm everything appears clear.
We ask your child to tell us if anything looks blurry, distorted, or uncomfortable. Most children adapt quickly, but we want to address any concerns right away during the fitting appointment.
Learning to Wear and Care for Stellest Glasses
For Stellest lenses to work best at slowing myopia progression, we typically recommend full-time wear, often aiming for about 12 hours per day when feasible. We recommend putting them on first thing in the morning and wearing them throughout school, homework time, and other daily activities. Consistent wear is more important than occasional all-day use.
You can create a routine by linking glasses-wearing to other daily habits like brushing teeth or eating breakfast. Wearing time appears to matter, and more consistent daily wear is generally associated with better myopia control, so building good habits early makes a big difference.
Teach your child to handle glasses by the frames, not by touching the lenses. Fingerprints and smudges can interfere with vision and the special lens coating. We recommend cleaning the lenses daily with lukewarm water and a drop of dish soap, then drying them with a clean microfiber cloth.
- Rinse lenses with water before wiping to remove debris
- Use only approved lens cleaners or mild soap
- Dry with a clean microfiber cloth, not paper towels or clothing
- Store glasses in a protective case when not being worn
Most children adapt to Stellest lenses within a few days to a week. During this time, they may notice that peripheral vision looks a little different than it did with regular glasses. This can be expected during adaptation and does not necessarily indicate a problem.
Encourage your child to move their head rather than just their eyes when they want to look at something to the side. If your child reports dizziness, headaches, or continued blurry vision after a week, contact our office so we can check the fit. If symptoms are severe, such as significant headaches, nausea, or marked vision problems, contact us sooner.
Your child can wear Stellest glasses during most everyday activities, including playground time and non-contact sports. We can discuss impact-resistant lens materials when appropriate for your child's activities. For contact sports or activities with a high risk of impact, we recommend protective sports goggles designed for sports or switching to regular prescription sports glasses during those specific times. The more hours your child wears the Stellest lenses overall, the better the myopia control results are likely to be.
We can discuss prescription sports eyewear options if your child is very active in athletics. Some families choose to have backup regular glasses for risky activities while using Stellest lenses for the majority of the day.
Follow-Up Visits and Ongoing Adjustments
We typically schedule the first follow-up visit about two to four weeks after your child starts wearing Stellest glasses. This appointment lets us check how well your child has adjusted and whether the glasses are still fitting properly. We will ask about any discomfort, vision issues, or challenges with wearing the glasses for the recommended hours.
During this visit, we verify that the lenses are clean and undamaged and that the frame has not shifted or loosened. We make any needed adjustments to improve comfort and ensure continued proper positioning.
Contact our office if the glasses are sliding down your child's nose frequently or if you notice red marks or soreness on the nose or behind the ears. Persistent headaches or eye strain can indicate that the lenses are no longer aligned correctly. If your child complains of blurry vision that was clear before, the frames may have been bent or knocked out of alignment.
- Glasses sitting lower on the nose than when first fitted
- Visible bend or twist in the frame
- Complaints of blurry areas that were clear initially
- Discomfort or pressure points that develop over time
We monitor how fast your child's myopia is changing by performing eye exams every six months. We compare the rate of prescription change to what we would expect without treatment. Measuring eye length with specialized equipment gives us additional data about whether eye growth is slowing down.
These regular measurements help us determine if the Stellest lenses are effective for your child. We will review the results with you and discuss whether to continue with the current plan or consider adjustments or alternative approaches.
If your child experiences sudden vision loss, flashes of light, or a curtain-like shadow in their vision, contact us immediately or seek emergency care. Severe eye pain, a painful red eye with light sensitivity, significant redness, or discharge that does not clear up within a day also requires prompt attention. If glasses break and a piece of lens or frame injures the eye, seek emergency care right away.
For glasses that simply need repair or adjustment, you can schedule a regular appointment during office hours. We are always available to answer questions about fit, comfort, or care between scheduled visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
The initial fitting appointment usually takes about 30 minutes once your glasses have arrived. This gives us enough time to check the lens positioning, adjust the frames, and make sure your child can see clearly and feels comfortable.
Some children notice a brief adjustment period of a few days where peripheral vision feels different, but dizziness is uncommon. If dizziness or discomfort lasts more than a week, we can recheck the measurements and fit to make sure everything is correct.
Existing frames can sometimes work if they meet the size and fit requirements for Stellest lenses. We will need to evaluate the frames during your appointment to determine if they are suitable or if new frames would be better.
When your child's prescription changes, we will order new Stellest lenses with the updated prescription. One goal of myopia management is to slow these changes, but some progression may still occur and we will update the glasses as needed.
Coverage varies widely by insurance plan. Some plans cover the basic lens cost but not the specialty myopia control technology, while others may offer partial reimbursement. We recommend calling your insurance provider to ask specifically about coverage for myopia management lenses.
We track effectiveness by comparing your child's rate of prescription change and eye length growth to typical progression rates. If the rate slows significantly compared to before treatment or to expected changes, the lenses are likely working well.
Scheduling and Support
Our team is here to support you and your child through every step of the Stellest fitting process and ongoing care. If you have questions about the lenses, need adjustments, or want to discuss how your child is doing with myopia management, we encourage you to reach out. We are committed to helping your child achieve the best possible vision and slowing myopia progression for healthier eyes in the future.