Atropine eye drops vs. Stellest Lenses for Kids Vision

[Anonymous]

My kids have been using atropine eye drops for years--almost 7 years for my older kid (now well into high school) and about 5 years for my younger one. We were not given the option of Stellest glasses so I can't speak to them. But both kids have had zero issues with the drops and little-to-no progression of myopia since they started using them. They are seen at a major children's hospital (not in the DMV) that now has many patients on the drops, though didn't when my older one started with them. Happy to answer any other questions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our ophthalmologist gave us 2 options for my kids increased myopia. I feel like Atropine eye drops are common, but I worry about long-term effects and have heard that the preservatives in the drops could be irritating. I wonder if the less invasive Stellest glasses are an as effective option, but it seems like they are newer so there are less studies about effectiveness. Can anyone share experiences with either? My kids are 7 and 9 for reference.

Use MiSight contacts for child. Working well so far. About 18 months out and no increase in prescription. There are also glasses (you'd have to order from Canada) that have been around called MiyoSmart. They might help you research how well the glasses are working because they've been around longer than Stellest, although they use different technology.

If you are local, who is your opthamologist for MySight? Thank you!

Thanks so much!

Kids Eye Care: https://www.kidseyecare.com/

[Anonymous]

All Eyes on Rockville for Misight and Atropine.

[Anonymous]

My kid uses the MiSight contacts, he has for almost three years now. A small change in his vision in year two but not much, the eyes evend out essentially. I am happy that there are options for kids today, hopefully it helps and he doesn’t end up with my horrifically bad eyesight.

[Anonymous]

May I ask if mentioned eye drops or lenses (glasses wear?) are insurance covered under medical or under eye care or not covered? Our eye care plan is a joke. How much is annual expenses?

[Anonymous]

I'm the pp above whose kids have been on the drops for years. Ours are not covered by insurance, we pay about $400 per year per kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May I ask if mentioned eye drops or lenses (glasses wear?) are insurance covered under medical or under eye care or not covered? Our eye care plan is a joke. How much is annual expenses?

Contacts are covered under our insurance.

[Anonymous]

We’ve been through unitedHealthcare, Guardian, and Kaiser, non of them covered our myopia correction lenses, the initial year was $2000 a child ( each following year was $1000 each, include 1-3 appointments related the lines, but didn’t cover eye infection ), an extra pair was $250, then all the lenses solution, regular moisture eye drops, and cleaning solutions for daily use through out the year was additional hundreds of dollars.

[Anonymous]

Stellest lenses were just approved by FDA late last year, so they will probably be covered by insurance (but we haven’t gotten them yet). The drops are not FDA approved for myopia but are approved for treating lazy eye.

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/misight-orthok-atropine-myopia-nearsighted-child#:~:text=Atropine%20eyedrops,a%20reasonable%20treatment%20for%20myopia.

[Anonymous]

Do the drops have any long term side effects? For those who have used them do your kids tolerate them well?

[Anonymous]

I’m PP from 20:39. My daughter started using the drops when she was 11 and just turned 13. She can be kind of sensitive about physical things, but the drops have been fine and her vision has not changed since using them. She puts them in herself each night. We are planning to get the stellest glasses also, but we haven’t yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has been using the drops for over a year and they have worked. Her vision has not changed. We recently found out about the lenses too and are planning to get a pair, but we haven’t yet. You have to make sure they wear the glasses at least 12 hours a day. They carry them at Target optical.

My daughter used atropine drops for 2 years, no change to vision. Took a year break, vision got worse. Started back up, and after the first year vision improved. Has never had eye irritation problems.

[Anonymous]

My son has been using the drops for nearly 2 years, and his prescription has not changed during that time. he complained that they were irritating for like the first week and now its fine.

[Anonymous]

I was told by Kids Eye Care the drops would be $100 a month. (not covered by ins)
Where are you getting them for $400 a year?

[Anonymous]

Another recommendation for mysight contact lenses. I had to help my son put them in for the first few months, but he can do it now. Also so much easier with sports.