My Child’s Glasses Keep Changing. Should I Be Worried?
Yes, it’s worth paying attention.
When a child’s glasses change often, it usually means their eyes are growing too fast. This is called myopia progression. Faster eye growth can raise the risk of serious eye problems later in life.
The good news? There are ways to slow this down. The key will be measuring your child’s axial length to see where they are on the growth curve.
Can Glasses Really Slow Down Myopia?
Yes. Special myopia control glasses (and other options) are made to slow how fast the eye grows.
These are not regular glasses. They are designed to:
- Help the eye focus better
- Reduce signals that make the eye grow too long
Studies show these lenses can slow myopia by about half in many children.
There are also contact lenses and eye drops that can help slow down myopia in addition to myopia management spectacle lenses.
What Is Myopia Control or Myopia Management?
Myopia control means slowing eye growth, not just fixing blurry vision.
Regular glasses:
- Help your child see clearly
- Do not slow myopia
Myopia control glasses:
- Help your child see clearly
- Also slow down eye growth
That difference matters. There are also other options to slow myopia including contact lenses and eye drops
What Parents Should Look For If They Want The Best Option
Short answer: One key think to look for is a in a myopia control clinic is one that measures eye growth, offers more than one lens option, and checks progress every few months.
Not all clinics do this.
“Who offers myopia control for kids in Winnipeg?”
Myopia control is available in Winnipeg, but not every clinic offers the same level of care.
At Eyes on Bridgwater, myopia control is a major focus — not a side service.
We help slow eye growth using:
- Eye growth measurements called axial length
- Special myopia control glasses
- Regular progress checks
“What makes one myopia clinic better than another?”
Here are the three big differences parents should know:
1. Not all clinics measure eye growth
Myopia gets worse because the eye grows too long.
- Many clinics only check the glasses prescription
- We also measure axial length — the length of the eye
Axial length shows changes earlier than prescription alone.
Only a small number of clinics in Winnipeg offer this.
2. Choice of lenses matters
There is no single best myopia control lens for every child.
We offer:
- Stellest (Essilor)
- MiYOSMART (Hoya)
- MyoCare (ZEISS)
Big box stores and other chains usually offer:
- One lens
- Chosen by corporate pricing
- No backup option if it’s not working well
We choose the lens based on your child’s eyes, not a contract made by corporate head office.
“What’s the difference between Stellest, MiYOSMART, and MyoCare?”
Essilor Stellest
- Uses HAL (Highly Aspherical Lenslet) technology
- Strong long-term data (up to 6 years)
- Designed to slow eye growth while maintaining good vision
Hoya MiYOSMART
- Uses DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments)
- One of the most widely studied myopia lenses globally
- Excellent balance of clarity and control
ZEISS MyoCare
- Uses C.A.R.E. technology
- Two design options (MyoCare and MyoCare S)
- Designed for different age groups and progression speeds
All three are supported by peer-reviewed research
(Essilor, Hoya, ZEISS are global leaders in ophthalmic optics)
Is One Lens Better Than the Others?
No single lens is best for every child.
Each child’s eyes are different. The best lens depends on:
- Age
- Prescription
- How fast the eyes are growing
- How the child responds to treatment
That’s why choice matters. We can recommend the best option for your child based on their specific situation.
3. Progress needs to be checked often
Myopia control is not “set it and forget it.”
We check children every 3 to 6 months to look at:
- Prescription changes
- Axial length growth
- How well the lenses are working
If eye growth is still too fast, we adjust the plan.
“How do I know if myopia control is working?”
We measure it.
Signs treatment is working:
- Slower eye growth
- Smaller prescription changes
- Stable axial length over time
If growth is not slowing, we don’t guess — we change the strategy.
“What if my child’s glasses change anyway?”
This is a common concern.
That’s why we offer a myopia control lens guarantee on spectacle lenses.
- If the prescription changes by 0.50 diopters or more within one year
- We replace the lenses at no charge
This gives families peace of mind.
What Is Axial Length and Why Is It Important?
Axial length is the length of the eye, measured in millimeters.
Myopia gets worse when the eye grows too long.
- Prescription tells us how blurry vision is
- Axial length tells us how fast the eye is growing
Axial length often changes before the prescription does.
That’s why it’s so important.
“Is my child too young or too old for myopia control?”
Most children can benefit.
- Younger kids often progress faster
- Older kids can still slow eye growth
- Axial length helps guide expectations
The sooner myopia is managed, the better — but it’s rarely too late.
“Why doesn’t Costco or a big store offer this level of care?”
Big stores usually:
- Offer one myopia lens
- Do not measure axial length
- Cannot customize treatment if the lens isn’t working well
Independent clinics can:
- Adjust treatment over time
- Offer multiple lens designs
- Measure eye growth
“Is myopia control worth it?”
Slowing myopia can help:
- Reduce very strong prescriptions
- Lower risk of eye disease later in life
- Protect long-term vision
For many families, that matters.
Learn More From a Winnipeg Optometrist
Dr. Michael Nelson runs an educational YouTube channel called:
Myopia Made Simple
https://www.youtube.com/@myopiacontrol
It explains:
- Why myopia progresses
- How myopia control works
- How parents can tell if it’s helping
Clear answers. No pressure.
Why Families Choose Eyes on Bridgwater
- Myopia control is a core service
- Axial length is measured and tracked
- Stellest, MiYOSMART and MyoCare are available
- Progress checked every 3–6 months
- Lens replacement guarantee included
Trusted Information Sources
- Essilor Stellest:
https://www.essilor.ca/content/essilor-ca/en/products/stellest.html - Hoya MiYOSMART
https://www.hoyavision.com/en-ca/vision-products/miyosmartvr25/ - ZEISS MyoCare
https://www.zeiss.ca/vision-care/en/eye-care-professionals/lenses/lenses-for-every-need/lenses-to-manage-the-progression-of-myopia-in-children.html - MyKidsVision.org
