Transitioning to Stellest from Regular Glasses
Understanding Stellest Lenses and Why We May Recommend Them
Stellest lenses feature a unique design that sets them apart from traditional single-vision glasses. The center of each lens corrects your child's myopia just like regular glasses, providing clear distance vision. Surrounding this central zone are hundreds of tiny lenslets arranged in a specific pattern across the lens surface.
These lenslets create a signal that may help slow down the elongation of the eyeball, which is the main cause of worsening myopia. Regular glasses only correct vision without addressing the underlying progression of nearsightedness.
The lenslet technology in Stellest works by creating myopic defocus in the peripheral visual field. This simultaneous defocus signal is believed to reduce the stimulus that causes the eye to grow longer. Clinical studies comparing Stellest to single-vision lenses over two years have reported an average slowing of myopia progression by approximately 67 percent, measured by changes in spherical equivalent refraction, when lenses were worn full-time during waking hours. Individual outcomes vary based on wear time, age, baseline progression rate, and other factors, and results may differ when measured by axial length change versus prescription change.
The effect is most significant when treatment begins early and the lenses are worn consistently throughout the day. However, individual results vary based on factors like genetics, time spent outdoors, and how much near work your child does.
We typically recommend Stellest for children between the ages of 6 and 12 whose myopia is progressing. Good candidates include kids whose prescription has increased by 0.50 diopters or more in a year, or those with a family history of high myopia. Children who are not yet ready for contact lenses or who prefer glasses often do well with Stellest.
Successful fitting also depends on your child's prescription range, the amount of astigmatism, the quality of best-corrected vision, and any binocular vision or eye alignment conditions. We evaluate ocular health to rule out eye diseases that require separate treatment. Proper centration of the lenslets over the pupil and selection of a well-fitting frame are critical to achieving the intended optical effect.
- Children with progressive myopia who can wear glasses for at least 12 hours daily
- Kids who are comfortable wearing glasses and take good care of them
- Families committed to regular follow-up appointments to monitor progress
- Children whose parents understand that results vary and myopia may still progress
We may be more cautious or recommend alternative approaches if your child has:
- Significant amblyopia or strabismus that requires separate vision therapy or patching
- High astigmatism, anisometropia, or prescription outside the lens design range
- Difficulty achieving proper frame fit, lens centration, or fitting height due to facial anatomy
- Ocular surface disease, allergies, or other eye conditions affecting lens tolerance
- Behavioral or developmental factors that make consistent full-time wear unlikely
Starting myopia management early in childhood offers the greatest potential benefit. The younger years are when myopia tends to progress most rapidly, so intervening sooner can help prevent higher levels of nearsightedness later. Each diopter of myopia we can prevent reduces your child's future risk of serious eye conditions like retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
Waiting until your child is older or their prescription is already very high means we have missed valuable years when treatment could have been most effective. We encourage families to consider myopia control as soon as progression is detected.
Recommendations for Stellest lenses, including product availability, approved indications, treatment protocols, and performance claims, may vary by country and regulatory jurisdiction. Our eye doctor will discuss the specific treatment options appropriate for your child based on current evidence, local standards of care, and individual clinical factors.
Preparing for the Transition
Before we prescribe Stellest lenses, we perform a comprehensive eye examination to assess your child's current prescription and eye health. We measure the refractive error in both eyes and check for any other conditions that might affect treatment. Special measurements of the eye's axial length may be taken to establish a baseline for tracking future changes.
We also evaluate your child's binocular vision and eye alignment to ensure they can adapt to the lens design. These detailed measurements help us customize the Stellest lenses to your child's specific needs and provide a reference point for monitoring progress over time.
Your child's daily routine plays a big role in how well Stellest lenses will work. We need to know how many hours per day your child can realistically wear their glasses, including during school, homework, and recreational activities. Information about screen time, reading habits, and outdoor play helps us set appropriate expectations.
- How much time your child spends on schoolwork and digital devices
- Whether your child plays sports and what type of protective eyewear may be needed
- Your child's willingness to wear glasses consistently throughout the day
- Any concerns about teasing or self-consciousness related to wearing glasses
Our goal when fitting Stellest lenses is to provide accurate distance correction in the central viewing zone, just as we would with any glasses. Success depends on precise measurements including pupillary distance, fitting height, and vertex distance, as well as selecting a frame that positions the lenses correctly in front of your child's eyes. These factors ensure that your child looks through the optimal part of the lens and that the lenslets are properly centered.
If your child's most recent prescription update was very recent, we may use that same power for the Stellest lenses. If it has been several months, we will recheck to make sure we are working with the most current correction. If your child's central vision is not clear and comfortable when wearing the new glasses, contact our office for a recheck rather than assuming they need more time to adjust.
It is important to understand that Stellest lenses slow myopia progression but do not cure or reverse nearsightedness. Your child will still need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly, and their prescription may continue to increase, just at a slower rate than it would without treatment. Success means less myopia progression compared to no intervention.
We measure success over months and years, not days or weeks. Most families see the greatest benefit when treatment continues through the years of active growth, often until the mid to late teenage years when myopia naturally stabilizes.
The First Few Weeks: What to Expect During Adjustment
During the first few days of wearing Stellest lenses, some children notice differences in their peripheral vision or slight changes in how things look at the edges of their visual field. This is a normal response to the lenslet design and typically resolves as the brain adapts to the new visual input. Central vision should be clear and comfortable from the start if the lenses are properly fitted and the prescription is accurate.
Most children adjust within a few days and stop noticing any difference. If your child mentions that objects seem slightly different in their side vision, reassure them that this sensation usually fades quickly with continued wear.
The honeycomb pattern of lenslets covers the outer portion of the Stellest lens but does not interfere with the clear central zone your child looks through for most tasks. Some children are curious about the appearance of the lenses or the subtle optical effect in their peripheral field. We encourage full-time wear to help the visual system adapt as quickly as possible.
- Encourage your child to wear the glasses continuously during waking hours
- Avoid switching back and forth between old glasses and Stellest during the adjustment period
- Remind your child to look through the center of the lenses for the clearest vision
- Give positive reinforcement as your child gets used to the new lenses
Most children fully adapt to Stellest lenses within one to two weeks of consistent wear. The adjustment period can be shorter for kids who already wear glasses all day and longer for those who were part-time wearers. Younger children often adapt more quickly than older ones because their visual systems are more flexible.
If symptoms like visual discomfort or awareness of peripheral blur persist beyond two weeks, we may need to recheck the fit and prescription to rule out any issues with the lenses themselves.
Initial comfort complaints may include awareness of the lens edges, slight eyestrain during extended reading, or mild headaches in the first few days. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve as your child's eyes and brain adjust. Making sure the frames fit properly and the lenses are positioned correctly can minimize discomfort.
If your child experiences persistent headaches, eye pain, or blurred central vision, contact our office rather than waiting for the next scheduled appointment. Proper lens cleaning and avoiding smudges or scratches also helps maintain visual comfort.
While minor adjustment symptoms are expected, certain warning signs indicate a need for evaluation. Some symptoms require prompt attention within a day or two, while others are urgent and need same-day assessment. Sudden vision loss, flashes of light, new floaters, a curtain or shadow in the visual field, or eye trauma require immediate same-day evaluation. Contact us if your child develops eye pain, redness, or discharge, as these may signal an eye infection or inflammation that needs prompt attention.
- Sudden flashes of light, new floaters, or a curtain or shadow in the visual field
- Eye injury or trauma during sports or other activities
- Severe headache accompanied by vision changes or eye pain
- Persistent double vision in either or both eyes
- Persistent headaches that worsen or do not improve after the first week
- Blurry central vision that does not clear even when looking through the lens center
- Dizziness or nausea related to wearing the glasses
- Refusal to wear the glasses due to severe discomfort despite proper fit
Daily Wear, Care, and Handling of Stellest Lenses
For optimal myopia control, we recommend that your child wear Stellest lenses for at least 12 hours every day. Consistent daily wear is more important than occasional longer wear days. The lenses should be worn during all waking activities including school, play, and screen time.
Establish a routine where your child puts on their glasses first thing in the morning and wears them until bedtime. The more hours per day your child wears the lenses, the greater the potential slowing effect on myopia progression.
Clean the lenses daily using a gentle eyeglass cleaner or mild soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean, soft microfiber cloth. The lenslet surface requires the same care as any premium lens coating, so avoid using paper towels, clothing, or other rough materials that can cause fine scratches.
- Rinse lenses under lukewarm water before wiping to remove debris
- Use only cleaning solutions designed for eyeglasses
- Dry with a clean microfiber cloth, not tissues or paper products
- Store glasses in a protective case when not being worn
Stellest lenses can be damaged by rough handling, dropping, or contact with hard surfaces. Always store the glasses in a sturdy case when your child is not wearing them, especially during sports or physical activities. Teach your child to use both hands when taking glasses on and off to avoid bending the frames.
Avoid leaving glasses in hot cars, near heaters, or in direct sunlight for extended periods, as heat can damage lens coatings. If the lenses become scratched, the optical quality may be compromised and replacement may be necessary.
During the active myopia management phase, we want your child to wear Stellest lenses as much as possible. However, we understand there are times when alternatives are needed. For sports with a high risk of glasses breaking, we recommend prescription protective sports eyewear or properly fitted sports goggles that can accommodate the Stellest prescription.
We recommend choosing one primary myopia management modality and using it consistently for the best results. If your child needs a short break from Stellest for a specific reason, such as a special event or activity, discuss the plan with our office in advance. Switching between different treatments or combining incompatible methods, such as adding daytime spectacles over a cornea reshaped by overnight orthokeratology, can lead to blur, discomfort, and difficulty tracking outcomes.
Monitoring Your Child's Progress After the Switch
After your child starts wearing Stellest lenses, we typically schedule a follow-up visit within the first one to two weeks to check fit, centration, adaptation, and comfort, especially for first-time full-time glasses wearers. A follow-up within the first month is also common. After the initial adaptation period, we usually see children every six months for comprehensive exams and measurements. Children with rapid myopia progression or other risk factors may need more frequent monitoring every three to four months initially. These regular visits allow us to track myopia progression and make any needed adjustments.
More frequent visits may be recommended if your child is very young, if myopia is progressing rapidly, or if there are any concerns about lens wear or compliance. Consistent monitoring is key to understanding how well the treatment is working for your individual child.
At each follow-up visit, we measure your child's refractive error to see if the prescription has changed. We may also measure axial length, which is the front-to-back length of the eyeball, using specialized equipment. Axial length is the most accurate way to assess whether myopia is progressing, since it directly measures eye growth.
- Refraction to determine the current glasses prescription
- Axial length measurement to track eye elongation over time
- Visual acuity testing to ensure your child sees clearly with the current lenses
- Discussion of wearing habits and any challenges with compliance
If your child's myopia progresses despite wearing Stellest lenses, we will update the prescription to maintain clear vision. Even with successful myopia control, some children still experience gradual increases in nearsightedness. When we update the prescription, new Stellest lenses are fabricated with the lenslet technology in the updated power.
The goal is not to prevent all change but to slow the rate of progression. Smaller, less frequent prescription changes compared to what would be expected without treatment indicate that the Stellest lenses are working effectively.
In cases where myopia continues to progress rapidly despite consistent Stellest wear, we may discuss adding or switching to other myopia control strategies. Low-dose atropine eye drops can be used in combination with Stellest lenses for an additive effect. Alternatively, we might consider specialty myopia control contact lenses if your child is old enough and interested.
Increasing outdoor time, reducing prolonged near work, and ensuring good visual ergonomics are important lifestyle modifications that support any myopia control treatment. Our goal is to find the right combination of interventions that works best for your child's specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, children can participate in most sports while wearing Stellest glasses. We recommend impact-resistant lens materials and properly fitted sports goggles or protective sports eyewear for high-contact activities like basketball, soccer, or racquet sports. For sports where glasses are not practical, such as swimming or martial arts, your child can remove them temporarily, but should put them back on immediately afterward to maximize daily wearing time.
We typically recommend continuing Stellest lenses through the active growth years, often until the mid to late teens when myopia naturally stabilizes. Once your child's prescription has been stable for a year or more, we may discuss transitioning back to regular glasses or contact lenses. The reduced myopia progression achieved during the treatment years means your child will have less cumulative myopia than they would have developed without intervention. This lower final prescription reduces the long-term risk of myopia-related eye diseases, though continued monitoring remains important throughout life.
Insurance coverage for Stellest lenses varies widely depending on your vision plan. Some plans cover specialty lenses for myopia control, while others treat them as upgrades or exclude them entirely. We recommend contacting your insurance provider before ordering to understand your benefits. Our office can provide documentation of medical necessity if your plan requires it.
Combining Stellest lenses with low-dose atropine eye drops is an option we may recommend for children with aggressive myopia progression. Research suggests that using multiple myopia control treatments together can provide greater slowing effects than either treatment alone. Atropine therapy requires consideration of additional factors including potential light sensitivity, near blur, possible allergic reactions, adherence to daily drop instillation, and the need for sun protection. We will discuss the potential benefits, side effects, and any additional monitoring required if we recommend a combination approach for your child.
If your child loses or breaks their Stellest glasses, contact our office right away so we can order a replacement pair. In the meantime, your child can wear their previous regular glasses if you still have them, though they will not provide myopia control benefits. We keep your child's prescription and measurements on file to make reordering faster. Consider purchasing a backup pair of Stellest lenses if your child has a history of losing or damaging glasses frequently.
We determine treatment effectiveness by comparing your child's rate of myopia progression to expected norms for their age and by tracking changes in axial length over time. If your child's prescription increases less than half a diopter per year or their axial length growth slows significantly, we consider the treatment successful. Keep in mind that some progression can still occur even with effective treatment, so we look at the rate of change rather than expecting no change at all.
Getting Help for Transitioning to Stellest from Regular Glasses
Our eye care team is here to support your family throughout the transition to Stellest lenses. If you have questions about the adjustment process, wearing schedule, or your child's progress, please reach out to our office. We aim to help your child adapt comfortably and achieve favorable outcomes in managing myopia.