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Comprehensive Myopia Control for Bay Area Children and Teens

At San Carlos Eye Care we provide myopia management for children and teens across the San Francisco Bay Area. Our goal is to slow the progression of nearsightedness using proven treatments like low-dose atropine, specialized contact lenses, myopia glasses and lifestyle guidance—helping protect your child’s long-term vision and eye health.

What is Myopia

If your child’s glasses prescription keeps getting stronger each year, you’re not alone.


Myopia, or nearsightedness, happens when the eye grows too long, causing distant objects to look blurry. It’s becoming more common among children who spend a lot of time reading or using digital devices.


When myopia progresses quickly, it can increase the risk of eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment or glaucoma.


The good news is that there are safe and effective ways to slow that progression.

Is My Child at Risk?

A quick self-check can help parents spot early signs:


  • One or both parents are nearsighted. 
  • Your child spends more than two hours a day on screens or reading.
  • Outdoor time is less than two hours per day.
  • You've noticed squinting, eye rubbing, or frequent prescription changes.


If two or more apply, your child may benefit from a myopia management consultation.

How to Slow Down the Progression of Myopia at Home

There are several effective strategies that can be implemented at home to help manage and slow down the progression of myopia.

Encourage Outdoor Play

Encourage Outdoor Play

Encourage Outdoor Play

  • Research suggests that spending more time outdoors can significantly slow the progression of myopia. 
  • Aim for at least 2 hours of outdoor play each day. 
  • Natural light and focusing on distant objects has been shown to help in reducing the amount of myopia.

Limit Screen Time

Encourage Outdoor Play

Encourage Outdoor Play

  • Excessive use of screens can strain the eves and mav contribute to the worsening of myopia. 
  • Set limits on screen time ensuring breaks are taken every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds- the "20-20-20 rule."'

Proper Room Lighting

Promote Proper Reading Habits

Promote Proper Reading Habits

  • Ensure that the environment where your child reads or uses electronic devices is well-lit to prevent eye strain.
  • Use ambient lighting that evenly illuminates the room without causing glare on screens or books.
  • Avoid harsh or dim lighting that can cause the eyes to work harder.

Promote Proper Reading Habits

Promote Proper Reading Habits

Promote Proper Reading Habits

  • Encourage children to maintain a healthy distance between their eves and books or screens. 
  • The recommended distance is about the length of a child's forearm.
  • Ensure adequate lighting to avoid eye strain.

What to expect

During your child’s myopia consultation, we will:


1. Measure eye growth and curvature using advanced imaging

2. Review daily habits and screen use

3. Discuss treatment options tailored to your child

4. Create a personalized plan with regular follow-up visits


Our goal is to help your child enjoy clear, comfortable vision and confidence as they grow.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a myopia management consultation with one of our friendly and knowledgeable eye doctors. 

Myopia Management Strategies

Child sleeping with Ortho-K overnight contacts used for myopia management at San Carlos Eye Care

Ortho-K (Overnight Lenses)

  • These custom contact lenses are worn while your child sleeps. They gently reshape the cornea overnight so vision is clear throughout the day—without glasses or daytime contacts.


  • Best for: Active kids or those who prefer not to wear lenses during the day.


Child applying MiSight daily contact lens for myopia control at San Carlos Eye Care

MiSight & Specialty Soft Contact Lenses

  • MiSight daily lenses are FDA-approved to help slow the progression of myopia while providing clear vision. They’re comfortable, easy to handle, and well suited for responsible children ready for contact lenses.


Child receiving low-dose atropine eye drops to slow myopia progression at San Carlos Eye Care.

Low Dose Atropine

  • Low-dose atropine is a simple nightly drop that helps slow down how quickly your child’s nearsightedness progresses. We use very gentle concentrations (0.01%–0.05%) so kids get the benefit without the stronger side effects seen in higher doses.


  • Most children tolerate it easily. Any mild light sensitivity or slight blur up close usually fades as their eyes adjust. 


  • Parents appreciate that it’s safe and fits easily into a bedtime routine.


  • It can be used alone or combined with Stellest lenses, ortho-k, or soft contacts.

Close up of Essilor Stellest glasses for slowing myopia in children at San Carlos Eye Care

Myopia Glasses

  • A new option for myopia control has recently been FDA approved in the United States — specialized myopia control glasses (Essilor Stellest Lenses) designed to help slow down nearsightedness in children. These lenses work by gently altering how light focuses on the retina, similar in concept to myopia control contact lenses.


  • Other types of myopia-control glasses, such as MiyoSmart, MyoCare, and Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) lenses, are available in certain countries but not in the United States. Stellest lenses are currently the only myopia-control glasses we can offer here and have strong research supporting their ability to slow myopia progression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Children as young as five or six can be evaluated. Starting early gives us the best chance to slow myopia progression. 


Yes. With proper training and follow-up, Ortho-K and MiSight lenses are very safe. We make sure each child knows how to care for their lenses. 


Some children still wear glasses part-time, but the goal is to slow the rate of change. Ortho-K often allows clear vision all day without glasses. 


That’s fine. Low-dose atropine drops and lifestyle adjustments can still help reduce myopia progression.


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    San Carlos Eye Care

    750 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA

    (650) 596-1999

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    Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley — proudly caring for patients from San Carlos, Redwood City, Belmont, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and nearby communities.

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