Is your child short-sighted? A parent's guide to myopia management

If your child has recently been diagnosed with short-sightedness, or if you've noticed them squinting at the board at school, you are not alone. Myopia (short-sightedness) in children is rising faster than at any point in recorded history, and the UK is not immune. At Thompson & Hardwick Optometrists in Lytham, we have been helping children and their families manage myopia for over 20 years. This guide explains what myopia is, why early action matters, and what your options are, written by the clinical team at our Lytham practice.

What is myopia?

Myopia is a condition where the eye has grown slightly too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. The result: distant objects appear blurry, while close-up vision remains clear. It is the reason your child can read a book perfectly but cannot read the whiteboard from the back of the classroom.

Myopia is not simply a glasses prescription. It is a progressive condition, one that typically worsens throughout childhood and into early adulthood. And the higher the prescription gets, the greater the risk of serious sight-threatening complications later in life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Why is myopia in children increasing?

Short-sightedness in children tripled between 1990 and 2023, and experts believe the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend further. By 2050, researchers project that more than 50% of the world's population will be myopic.

Two main factors drive the rise:

1. Less time outdoors. Natural daylight triggers the release of dopamine in the retina, which limits eye elongation. Children who spend two or more hours outside each day have a significantly lower risk of developing myopia. Reduced outdoor time particularly during the pandemic of 2020 has contributed to the recent spike in cases.

2. More near-vision demand. Extended time spent reading, using screens, and doing close-up work puts continuous strain on the focusing system of the eye and is linked to faster progression of myopia in children who are already short-sighted.

The result is a generation of children developing myopia earlier and progressing faster than any previous generation. Children who develop myopia before age 10 are significantly more likely to reach high myopia (-6.00 dioptres or worse) as adults, placing them at far greater risk of permanent sight loss.

What does myopia management actually mean?

Myopia management, sometimes called myopia control, refers to a range of evidence-based clinical treatments designed to slow the rate at which a child's prescription worsens. Standard glasses and contact lenses correct blurry vision but do not slow myopia progression. Myopia management treatments do both.

Scientific studies have shown that myopia management treatments can reduce myopia progression by 30–80%, depending on the method used and the age of the child. The earlier treatment begins, the better the long-term outcome.

At Thompson & Hardwick, we offer three main approaches for myopia management in children:

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K lenses)

Orthokeratology involves wearing specially designed rigid contact lenses overnight while sleeping. The lenses gently reshape the cornea during the night, allowing the child to see clearly throughout the day without glasses or daytime contact lenses. Ortho-K is particularly popular with children who play sport or swim, and it is one of the most effective myopia management strategies available. Studies show it can slow myopia progression by up to 50%.

Myopia control contact lenses

Specialist soft contact lenses, such as MiSight or Bloom Day daily disposable lenses, have been clinically proven to slow myopia progression in children. These lenses use dual-focus technology: one zone corrects the child's vision, while another using defocused light to send a signal to the eye to slow its growth. In clinical trials, these lenses reduced axial elongation (physical eye growth) by over 50% compared to standard single-vision lenses.

Myopia control spectacle lenses

For younger children or those not yet ready for contact lenses, specialist spectacle lenses, including highly aspherical lenslet (HAL) designs, can significantly reduce the rate of myopia progression. These are worn as normal glasses but are specifically engineered to limit eye elongation.

We also monitor axial length — the physical length of the eye — using specialist diagnostic equipment. This is the gold standard in myopia management, as it tells us whether treatment is working before changes appear in the prescription.

When should myopia management start?

Myopia management should begin as early as possible, ideally before the prescription has time to worsen significantly. At Thompson & Hardwick, we recommend beginning a management programme once myopia is confirmed, typically from age 6 upwards.

Children whose myopia begins before age 10 are at the highest risk of fast progression and should be seen as a priority. However, children diagnosed at any age during school years will benefit from treatment.

Signs your child may be short-sighted:

- Squinting to see the board or television

- Sitting very close to screens or books

- Complaints of headaches, especially after school

- Rubbing their eyes frequently

- Difficulty recognising faces or reading signs at a distance

- Poor performance in sports involving moving targets

If you notice any of these signs, we recommend booking a comprehensive eye examination rather than waiting for the next routine appointment. Early diagnosis gives us more time to intervene before progression accelerates.

Is myopia management available on the NHS?

Myopia management treatments are not currently funded by the NHS. Standard NHS eye tests for children are free, and the NHS will provide a voucher towards standard glasses or contact lenses where needed. However, myopia control treatments, such as orthokeratology lenses, MiSight or Bloomk Day contact lenses, and specialist spectacle lenses are only available privately.

This is not a reflection of the clinical evidence. Organisations including the College of Optometrists and Myopia UK have called for NHS-funded myopia management, and the first licensed pharmaceutical myopia treatment (low-dose atropine drops, brand name Ryjunea) was approved by the MHRA in late 2025, a sign that the landscape is changing.

For now, if you want to actively slow your child's myopia progression, it will need to be arranged privately. Thompson & Hardwick offer transparent pricing for all myopia management programmes, and we are happy to discuss costs at your initial consultation. Many families find that the investment in early management is significantly less than the cost of managing high myopia and its associated complications in adulthood.

Myopia management at Thompson & Hardwick Optometrists, Lytham

Thompson & Hardwick has offered dedicated myopia management at our Lytham practice since 2003, over 20 years of specialist clinical experience in this field. We were among the early adopters of myopia management in Lancashire at a time when it was still considered a specialist-only service.

Our myopia management clinic is led by Drew Thompson, an Independent Prescriber, one of only a small number of optometrists on the Fylde Coast qualified to both diagnose and prescribe treatment for eye conditions without a GP referral. This credential means we can provide a higher level of clinical care than most high street optical practices.

We use corneal topography to map the surface of the eye with precision, an essential diagnostic tool for fitting orthokeratology lenses, alongside advanced biometry to monitor axial length and track whether treatment is producing measurable results. Our patients and their families receive a full written management plan, with regular follow-up appointments to review progress.

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia, or if you are concerned about their vision, we would strongly encourage you to book a consultation before their prescription has the opportunity to worsen further. Call us on 01253 794522 or book online below.

Can myopia be stopped in children?

Myopia cannot currently be cured, but its progression can be significantly slowed with specialist treatments such as orthokeratology lenses, myopia control contact lenses, and specialist spectacle lenses. Scientific studies show these treatments can reduce progression by 30–80%. Thompson & Hardwick has been providing myopia management in Lytham for over 20 years.

What age should myopia management start?

Myopia management can begin from age 6 upwards, and the earlier treatment starts, the better the long-term outcome. Children who develop myopia before age 10 are at the greatest risk of fast progression and should be assessed as a priority.

How much does myopia management cost in the UK?

Myopia management treatments are not funded by the NHS and must be arranged privately. Costs vary depending on the treatment chosen — orthokeratology lenses typically involve a fitting fee plus annual replacement costs, while daily disposable myopia control lenses are priced per box like standard contact lenses. Thompson & Hardwick provide transparent pricing at consultation.

What is the difference between myopia management and standard glasses?

Standard glasses and contact lenses correct blurry vision caused by myopia, but they do not slow the progression of the condition. Myopia management treatments are specifically designed to reduce the rate at which the eye grows, limiting how much the prescription worsens over time. Without management, myopia typically worsens by -0.50 to -1.00 dioptres per year throughout childhood.

Is myopia management available on the NHS?

Myopia management treatments are not currently funded by the NHS. NHS eye tests for children are free, and the NHS provides vouchers towards standard glasses, but specialist myopia control treatments must be arranged privately. The MHRA approved the first licensed myopia drug (low-dose atropine) in late 2025, which may lead to future NHS provision.

Does spending time outdoors help with myopia?

Yes. Natural daylight stimulates the release of dopamine in the retina, which helps limit the elongation of the eye. Children who spend at least two hours outdoors each day have a significantly lower risk of developing myopia or progressing rapidly. Outdoor time is recommended alongside — not instead of — clinical myopia management treatments.

Book a myopia management consultation in Lytham

If you are concerned about your child's vision, the best thing you can do is act now. Myopia that is caught early and managed properly gives your child the best possible chance of maintaining good vision throughout their life.

Thompson & Hardwick Optometrists are based at 27 Park Street, Lytham, FY8. We offer comprehensive children's eye examinations and specialist myopia management consultations with our experienced clinical team. To book an appointment, call us on 01253 794522 or use our online booking system.

We have been caring for the eyes of Lytham families for over 25 years. We would be glad to help yours.

Book an appointment online