Is a School or Pediatrician Vision Screening Enough?
Vision screenings aren’t a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam—they cover less than 4% of what an eye doctor assesses during a full exam, and miss diagnosing up to 75% of children with vision problems. Vision problems can involve issues with eye alignment, focusing ability, ocular health, and more, which a basic screening might miss.
Here’s what you might notice:
Squinting to see distant objects like the board at school or TV at home could indicate a need for glasses.
Eye rubbing might signal vision or health problems, and excessive rubbing can sometimes lead to a condition called Keratoconus.
Preferring one eye by closing the other or turning the head can be a sign of amblyopia, or "lazy eye."
Difficulty focusing up close when reading or using digital devices may lead to eye strain, headaches, or affect school performance.
Vision screenings don’t assess binocular vision disorders, which are common and can impact a child’s development. These include:
Difficulty focusing on close-up objects.
Inability to align the eyes properly for near targets.
What our Doctors do during a Child’s Eye Exam:
- Check fixation, eye alignment, and ocular movements.
- Use light and lenses to determine if glasses are needed to improve clarity or prevent amblyopia.
- Retinal photos to assess the internal health of the eyes.
A comprehensive eye exam ensures your child’s eyes are healthy, their vision is clear, and they’re set up for success!
Myopia Management
Helping Slow the Progression of Nearsightedness
What Is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common vision condition where objects up close appear clear, but objects in the distance look blurry. Myopia typically develops during childhood and can continue to progress as the eyes grow.
While traditional glasses and contact lenses correct blurry vision, myopia management focuses on slowing the progression of nearsightedness and controlling excessive eye growth.
Why does that matter? Higher levels of myopia can increase the risk of certain eye conditions later in life, including retinal problems, glaucoma, and other vision-threatening complications.
The good news is that there are options available to help manage myopia while your child’s eyes are still developing.
Myopia Management Options
Every child is different. Our doctors will evaluate your child’s prescription, eye health, age, lifestyle, and visual needs to determine which option may be the best fit.
Stellest™ Lenses
Don’t just correct myopia—help slow its progression.
Stellest lenses are specially designed spectacle lenses that correct vision while also helping slow the progression of myopia in children.
Unlike traditional single-vision glasses, Stellest lenses use H.A.L.T. technology (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) to create a specialized optical signal designed to help slow excessive eye growth.
In a 2-year clinical study, Stellest lenses slowed myopia progression by an average of 71% compared with standard single-vision lenses.
Stellest lenses may be an excellent option for children who:
- Prefer wearing glasses
- Are not ready for contact lenses
- Need a simple, easy-to-use option for everyday wear
- Are experiencing progressive nearsightedness
An easy, everyday way to help manage your child’s myopia.
MiSight® 1 day Contact Lenses
MiSight® 1 day is a daily disposable contact lens specifically designed for children with progressing myopia.
These lenses provide clear vision while incorporating specialized optical technology designed to help slow myopia
progression.
Because MiSight lenses are single-use daily disposables, there is no need for cleaning or storing lenses overnight.
MiSight may be a good option for children who:
- Are comfortable wearing contact lenses
- Participate in sports or activities where glasses may be inconvenient
- Want the freedom of glasses-free vision
- Can demonstrate appropriate lens handling and hygiene
Our doctors will determine whether your child is a good candidate for myopia-control contact lenses.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, uses specially designed contact lenses worn overnight to temporarily reshape the front surface of the eye.
The lenses are removed in the morning, allowing many patients to see clearly during the day without glasses or contact lenses.
Ortho-K can also be used as part of a myopia management plan to help slow the progression of nearsightedness.
Because Ortho-K lenses are worn overnight, proper cleaning, handling, and follow-up care are especially important.
Our doctors can discuss whether Ortho-K is appropriate for your child based on their prescription, eye health, and
ability to safely care for the lenses.
Healthy Habits for Growing Eyes
Myopia management isn’t just about lenses. Daily habits can also play an important role in supporting healthy
visual development.
- Spend More Time Outdoors: Encourage your child to spend about 1.5–2 hours outdoors each
day when possible. Increased time outdoors has been associated with a lower risk of developing myopia in
children. - Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: When using screens or doing close-up work: Every 20 minutes → look at
something at least 20 feet away → for at least 20 seconds. This gives the eyes a break from prolonged
near focusing. - Keep a Comfortable Reading Distance Encourage your child to hold books, tablets, and other
screens at a comfortable distance—ideally around arm’s length for screens—and avoid holding reading
material extremely close to the face.
Which Myopia Management Option Is Right for My Child?
Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam
If your child’s prescription is changing frequently or you are concerned about worsening nearsightedness, talk with
our eye care team about whether myopia management may be appropriate.
During your child’s comprehensive eye exam, our doctors will evaluate their prescription and eye health and discuss
the options that may be appropriate.
The goal isn’t simply to help your child see clearly today—it’s to help protect their vision for the future.
