What the Research Says About Myopia Control: Ortho-K, Stellest & Atropine

Understanding the goal

Myopia management focuses on slowing eye growth (axial elongation), not just correcting blur. Controlling that elongation lowers lifetime risk of retinal and macular disease (AAO 2024).

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Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)

Ortho-K lenses are rigid gas-permeable lenses worn overnight.
A meta-analysis showed they reduce axial elongation by 0.25 mm over two years compared with single-vision lenses (PMC 12101883).
The 11-year ROMIO study confirmed sustained benefit with no serious adverse events (BMC Ophthalmology 2023).

At Advanced Eyecare, Ortho-K is recommended for active kids who want daytime freedom from glasses and evidence-backed control.

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Stellest and other spectacle technologies

Stellest lenses by Essilor use “H.A.L.T.” technology to create simultaneous myopic defocus.
The two-year clinical trial in China reported 67 % reduction in progression vs single-vision lenses and 60 % reduction in axial elongation.
These lenses look and feel like regular glasses, making them easy for young children to wear full-time.

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Low-dose Atropine

Atropine has decades of research support:

• The LAMP study demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy, with 0.05 % providing the greatest control (PubMed 30514630).

• The U.S. MOSAIC trial found 0.01 % did not significantly slow progression in U.S. children over 2 years (JAMA Ophthalmology 2023).
  Take-home: dosage and ethnicity matter; treatment should be customized and closely monitored.

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Lifestyle interventions

Spending time outdoors (bright light ≥ 10,000 lux) stimulates dopamine release in the retina, slowing elongation. A study in Ophthalmic Research linked an additional 40 minutes/day outdoors to a 23 % reduction in incident myopia. Encourage the “20-20-20 rule” during screen or reading time.

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Combined approach

The best outcomes often come from combining treatments—e.g., Ortho-K + Atropine or Stellest + lifestyle changes.
Our offices in Edgewater, Hillsborough & Carteret provide this multi-modal care with axial-length tracking at every visit.

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Conclusion

Today’s evidence clearly supports proactive myopia control.

Protect your child’s sight—book a Myopia Control Assessment at Advanced Eyecare of New Jersey.

Hillsborough Office —> Book Appointment

Edgewater Office ——> Book Appointment

Carteret Office ———> Book Appointment