Childhood myopia in the UK: what the latest guidance recommends

Rates of short-sightedness in children have climbed steadily across the UK and much of the world. Higher myopia in adulthood carries a lifelong increase in the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular problems, so slowing progression matters.

What the evidence supports

Low-dose atropine drops, specially designed spectacle lenses and orthokeratology all slow progression in trials. None stops it entirely.

The simplest intervention

Around two hours of daylight outdoors each day is consistently associated with slower progression. It costs nothing.

When to have a child's eyes tested

Squinting at the board, sitting close to screens, headaches or a family history of strong glasses all justify a test. NHS sight tests are free for children.

The adult connection

Adults who grew up short-sighted often become candidates for lens replacement in their fifties and sixties, and their higher myopia makes accurate measurement and careful lens choice particularly important.

What this means if you are considering surgery in the UK

New technology only helps when it is matched to the right eye. Ms Tahmina Pearsall FRCOphth is a UK consultant ophthalmic surgeon on the GMC specialist register with more than 40,000 eye procedures performed, and she assesses every patient personally before recommending anything. If adult short-sightedness treatment is relevant to you, a consultation will tell you whether it changes your options — or whether a simpler, better-established treatment gives you a safer result.

Book a consultation with Ms Pearsall

Consultations are available at clinics across the UK, including London Harley Street, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Reading and Southampton. You can book a consultation, arrange a free 15-minute call, see treatment prices, read verified patient reviews or find your nearest clinic.