That moment at the optometrist is a gut-punch. You’ve been told your child’s myopia is getting worse, and you’re back for another, stronger script. You’re not just worried about thicker glasses. You’re worried about what it means for their future eye health—and that feeling of helplessness is real.
What if you could do more than just correct their vision? What if you could help manage the progression itself?
This is the goal of modern myopia control. Among the advanced options available are spectacle lenses like Hoya MiYOSmart and Essilor Stellest. As a parent, understanding the difference is the first step.
Please note: This blog provides general information only. It is not a substitute for personalised advice from a qualified health professional. Always consult with a registered optometrist about your child’s individual needs.
Why Managing Myopia Progression Matters
Many of us grew up thinking myopia (short-sightedness) was just about needing glasses. We now understand that significant myopia, particularly when it progresses during childhood, can increase the risk of certain eye conditions later in life.
The goal of myopia control isn’t just to clear up distance vision today; it’s to help slow the progression of myopia and the associated elongation of the eye.
- The Everyday Impact: The frustration of constantly updating prescriptions can be a hassle for the whole family.
- The Long-Term View: By taking steps to manage myopia progression now, parents can be proactive about their child’s long-term ocular health.
The good news? The approach to childhood myopia has evolved. We now have a range of management strategies beyond standard single-vision lenses.
Learn more here: https://eyephilosophy.com.au/myopia/
Your Family’s Trusted Partner in Eye Care, For Over 40 Years
With information about ortho-k, atropine eye drops, and various lenses available online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You need a clear, expert guide.
For over four decades, our independent optometry practice has been trusted by families across Melbourne and Australia, specifically Williamstown and Doncaster. Our approach is grounded in evidence-based care. We take the time to understand your child’s unique needs to determine if myopia control is appropriate and, if so, which option might be best suited for them. Our commitment—”Trusted by Families for 40+ Years”—is at the heart of everything we do.
Head-to-Head: The Science Behind MiYOSmart and Stellest Lenses
Both Hoya MiYOSmart and Essilor Stellest are special spectacle lenses designed to correct your child’s distance vision while simultaneously providing a myopia control signal to slow eye growth. However, they achieve this through different, yet equally sophisticated, optical technologies.
Hoya MiYOSmart: Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (D.I.M.S.) Technology
How It Works: The MiYOSmart lens has a central zone for clear distance vision. Surrounding this central zone are hundreds of tiny, invisible “defocus” segments. These segments create a myopic defocus in the peripheral retina, which scientific studies show acts as a “stop signal” for excessive eye elongation.
Key Feature: A single, seamless lens design that provides clear vision and constant myopia control, no matter the direction of gaze.
Clinical Results: A pivotal 2-year clinical study showed that MiYOSmart lenses slowed myopia progression by an average of 60% and axial elongation (eye growth) by 66% compared to single-vision lenses.
Check other info here:
Essilor Stellest: Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target (H.A.L.T.) Technology
How It Works: The Stellest lens is engineered with a constellation of 1,102 invisible, non-removable aspherical lenslets. These lenslets create a volume of defocus in front of the retina, forming a “signal shield” that consistently slows the progression of myopia, even with off-center viewing.
Key Feature: Essilor emphasizes the strength and stability of this “defocus shield” in ensuring consistent efficacy.
Clinical Results: In rigorous trials, Essilor Stellest lenses demonstrated a slowdown of myopia progression by 67% on average compared to single-vision lenses. Notably, 100% of children in the 2-year trial who wore Stellest lenses full-time had less than 0.50D of progression per year.
MiYOSmart and Stellest: A Professional Perspective
The most common question we get is, “Which one is better?” The honest answer is: the best lens is the one that is best for your child.
Both are FDA-approved and TGA-approved, and both have outstanding clinical trial results. The choice often comes down to individual factors that our optometrists assess during a comprehensive myopia control consultation.
| Feature | Hoya MiYOSmart | Essilor Stellest |
| Core Technology | D.I.M.S. (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) | H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) |
| Appearance | Single-vision looking; minimal visible design. | Single-vision looking; minimal visible design. |
| Clinical Efficacy | ~60% slowdown in progression | ~67% slowdown in progression |
Our Role as Your Expert Guide: During your appointment, we’ll perform precise measurements and discuss your child’s habits. Do they play sports? Are they consistent with wearing glasses? We then use this data, combined with our deep product knowledge, to make a personalised recommendation. We are provider agnostic; our only allegiance is to your child’s visual outcome.
Hearing From Our Community
“After our son’s prescription kept getting stronger each year, we were keen to explore myopia control. The optometrist explained all the options, including MiYOSmart lenses, in a way we could understand. We’ve been very happy with the progress so far. The care and ongoing support from the practice have been fantastic.”
– The Sharma Family, Brighton, VIC
Results may vary from person to person.
Addressing Common Questions About Myopia Control
Question: “Are lifestyle changes like spending more time outdoors enough to stop myopia?”
While spending time outdoors is widely recommended and may play a role in reducing the risk of developing myopia, robust clinical evidence indicates that once myopia has begun to progress, lifestyle changes alone are generally not sufficient to stop that progression. Myopia control interventions are specifically designed for this purpose.
Question: “How do these glasses compare to other options like ortho-k or atropine drops?”
Ortho-K (overnight contact lenses) and low-dose atropine eye drops are other management options supported by evidence. Each has different considerations, advantages, and suitability criteria. Spectacle lenses like MiYOSmart and Stellest offer a non-invasive option that can be a good starting point for many children, while Ortho-K offers a similar potential in myopia control while offering freedom from glasses or daytime contact lenses. Our optometrists can explain all the options during a consultation.
Question: “Is it worth starting myopia management now, or should we wait?”
Myopia typically progresses most rapidly during childhood. The earlier a management strategy is implemented, the greater the potential opportunity to slow progression during these critical years. We recommend a proactive approach.
Your Next Step is Clear
We hope this guide has been helpful in explaining these two specific myopia control options.
We encourage you to discuss any questions you have with your optometrist. If you know another parent navigating their child’s myopia journey, feel free to share this article with them.
Take the Next Step in Your Child’s Myopia Journey
Understanding the options is the first step. The next is a professional assessment to determine the best path forward for your child.
Book a comprehensive Myopia Management Consultation with our experienced optometrists.
During this thorough appointment, we will:
- Perform a detailed assessment of your child’s vision and ocular health.
- Discuss the principles of myopia control and whether it is an appropriate path for your child.
- If suitable, explain all the available management options, including myopia control glasses, ortho-k, and atropine eye drops, and provide our professional recommendation.
With over 40 years of caring for the eyes of Melbourne families, you can be confident in a thorough and personalised approach.
Click Here to Book Your Myopia Management Consultation: https://eyephilosophy.com.au/myopia/
Please note: Appointment times for our comprehensive consultations are limited to ensure we dedicate sufficient time to each patient.
For other reference, you may refer to this link https://www.mykidsvision.org/knowledge-centre/all-about-eye-glasses-for-myopia-control.