Myopia Control Clinic
Myopia control lenses for children, in Thane.
Twenty years ago the only option was a stronger spectacle power every year. Today there are four evidence-backed approaches and we fit all of them — HOYA MiyoSmart, Essilor Stellest and ZEISS MyoCare lenses, low-dose atropine and orthokeratology — with clinical review through Bhaskar EyeCare, Thane.
What myopia control is actually treating
Myopia is not really a problem with the lens of the eye. It is a problem with the length of the eye. In a myopic child the eyeball elongates faster than it should, so light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it. A conventional spectacle lens moves the focus back onto the retina — but it does nothing to slow the elongation. That is why the number keeps climbing.
Every treatment below works on the elongation, not just the blur. That distinction matters, because axial length is also what drives the long-term risks associated with high myopia later in life.
Spectacle lenses
Three designs, three ways of building a treatment zone.
All three put your child's full distance correction in a clear central optic and surround it with a treatment zone. What differs is the geometry of that zone.
HOYA MiyoSmart
D.I.M.S.A honeycomb array of small defocus segments across a ring around the clear centre.
Essilor Stellest
H.A.L.T.Concentric rings of highly aspherical lenslets forming a volume of defocus in front of the retina.
ZEISS MyoCare
C.A.R.E.Continuous concentric annular rings, alternating correction and treatment power.
Schematic illustrations drawn to explain each optical principle. Not to scale, and not manufacturer artwork.
The evidence
What the published trials actually reported.
Every figure below comes from a peer-reviewed, indexed randomised trial. They are group averages over a fixed follow-up period, not a prediction for any individual child.
| Approach | How it works | Reported effect | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.I.M.S. spectacle lens (HOYA MiyoSmart) |
Honeycomb of defocus segments around a clear centre | 52% slower myopia progression and 62% less axial elongation vs single vision, over 2 years | Lam 20201 |
| H.A.L.T. spectacle lens (Essilor Stellest) |
Concentric rings of highly aspherical lenslets | Slowed myopia progression and axial elongation vs single vision lenses over 2 years | Bao 20222 |
| C.A.R.E. spectacle lens (ZEISS MyoCare) |
Continuous concentric annular refractive rings | 21% less progression and 23% less axial elongation vs single vision, at 1 year | Liu 20233 |
| Low-dose atropine 0.05% / 0.025% / 0.01% |
Prescription eye drop, once nightly | At 1 year, axial elongation 0.20 mm on 0.05% vs 0.41 mm on placebo; 0.05% most effective of the three concentrations | Yam 20194 |
| Orthokeratology (overnight lenses) |
Rigid lens worn overnight, reshaping the cornea | Axial elongation 0.36 mm vs 0.63 mm in spectacle controls over 2 years — about a 43% reduction | Cho 20125 |
Low-dose atropine
A single drop at night, at a concentration far below the dose used to dilate pupils for an examination. The LAMP trial compared 0.05%, 0.025% and 0.01% against placebo and found a concentration-dependent effect, with 0.05% the most effective of the three over one year and all three tolerated without an adverse effect on vision-related quality of life.4
Atropine is a prescription medicine. It is prescribed, titrated and monitored by the treating ophthalmologist through Bhaskar EyeCare — we don't hand it across the counter. It is often used alongside spectacle lenses rather than instead of them.
Orthokeratology
A rigid gas-permeable lens worn overnight, which gently reshapes the front surface of the cornea. The child removes it in the morning and goes through the day without glasses or contact lenses. The ROMIO trial reported axial elongation of 0.36 mm in the ortho-K group against 0.63 mm in spectacle-wearing controls over two years.5
Ortho-K needs careful fitting, disciplined lens hygiene and regular review — the main risk is microbial keratitis if the lenses are handled badly. It suits families who can commit to the routine, and it is genuinely liberating for children in sport.
Choosing between them
- 01Measure, don't guess
Refraction plus axial length where available, so progression is tracked as a number rather than a feeling.
- 02Match to the child
Age at onset, rate of progression, parental myopia, sport, screen habits and how reliably the child will comply.
- 03Review on a schedule
Fixed intervals, not "come back when it gets blurry". If one approach isn't holding, we escalate or combine.
Two things that cost nothing
More time outdoors in daylight, and shorter uninterrupted near-work sessions with regular breaks. Neither replaces treatment, both are worth doing, and both are free.
References
- Lam CSY, Tang WC, Tse DY, Lee RPK, Chun RKM, Hasegawa K, Qi H, Hatanaka T, To CH. Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses slow myopia progression: a 2-year randomised clinical trial. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2020;104(3):363–368.
- Bao J, Huang Y, Li X, Yang A, Zhou F, Wu J, Wang C, Li Y, Lim EW, Spiegel DP, Drobe B, Chen H. Spectacle Lenses With Aspherical Lenslets for Myopia Control vs Single-Vision Spectacle Lenses: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2022;140(5):472–478.
- Liu X, Wang P, Xie Z, Sun M, Chen M, Wang J, Huang J, Chen S, Chen Z, Wang Y, Li Y, Qu J, Mao X. One-year myopia control efficacy of cylindrical annular refractive element spectacle lenses. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2023;101(6):651–657.
- Yam JC, Jiang Y, Tang SM, et al. Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial of 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops in Myopia Control. Ophthalmology. 2019;126(1):113–124.
- Cho P, Cheung SW. Retardation of Myopia in Orthokeratology (ROMIO) Study: A 2-Year Randomized Clinical Trial. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2012;53(11):7077–7085.
Myopia questions
What parents ask us.
At what age should myopia control start?
As soon as progressive myopia is confirmed. The younger a child is when myopia begins, the more years of progression lie ahead, so early-onset myopia is generally the highest priority for treatment. That said, starting later is still better than not starting.
Will my child see normally through these lenses?
Yes. The centre of the lens carries the full distance correction, so distance vision is corrected exactly as it would be with an ordinary lens. The treatment zone sits outside that clear centre. Most children adapt within a few days.
Do the lenses reverse myopia?
No, and you should be sceptical of anyone who says otherwise. These lenses are designed to slow the rate at which myopia progresses and the eye elongates. The number already reached does not come back.
How often do you review a child on myopia control?
We review on a fixed schedule rather than waiting for the child to complain, because the whole point is to catch progression before it shows up as blurred vision. Clinical review runs through the paediatric eye department at Bhaskar EyeCare.
Is low-dose atropine safe?
Low-concentration atropine has been studied in randomised trials and was reported to be well tolerated at the concentrations tested. It is a prescription medicine, so it is prescribed and monitored on the clinical side through Bhaskar EyeCare, not dispensed over our counter. Side effects, suitability and concentration are decided by the treating ophthalmologist.
Can myopia control lenses and atropine be combined?
Sometimes. Combination approaches are used in practice for children progressing quickly despite a single treatment. Whether it is appropriate is a clinical decision made after examination, not something to start on your own.
Where our customers come fromOur Ghodbunder Road outlet serves Ovala, Kasarvadavali, Waghbil, Owale, Brahmand, Anand Nagar, Manpada, Hiranandani Estate, Kolshet and the rest of Ghodbunder Road. Our Bhaskar Colony outlet serves Naupada, Teen Hath Naka, Panchpakhadi, Charai, Chendani, Vartak Nagar, Kopri and central Thane West.
Book a myopia assessment.
Bring your child's last prescription if you have it. The assessment decides which approach fits, not the other way round.