Myopia Management for Children: How to Slow Short-Sightedness
If your child has started squinting at the television, sitting closer to the board at school, or holding a tablet right up to their face, short-sightedness may be the reason. It is more common than ever, and it tends to get worse through the school years.
The good news is that you no longer have to simply watch it happen. Myopia management is a proven way to slow it down, and it could protect your child’s eyes for the rest of their life.
At Perspective Optometrists in Belsize Park, we focus on the approaches with the strongest evidence behind them. That includes MiSight contact lenses, a daily lens designed to slow short-sightedness, as well as spectacle lens options such as MiYOSMART. We will assess your child, recommend the approach that suits them best, and fit and monitor it with the care they deserve.
| WORRIED ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S EYESIGHT?
Book a children’s eye examination, and we will talk you through whether myopia management is the right step for them. Book a children’s eye examination or call 020 7586 5508. |
What is myopia, and why is it on the rise?
Myopia, or short-sightedness, means your child can see clearly up close, but distant objects look blurred. It happens when the eye grows slightly too long, so light focuses just in front of the retina rather than directly on it.
It is becoming far more common. By 2050, around half of the world’s population is predicted to be short-sighted. In the UK, the number of children who are short-sighted has more than doubled over the last fifty years, and children are developing it at a younger age. More time on screens and indoors, and less time outside, are thought to play a part.
If one or both parents are short-sighted, a child is more likely to be too. That is worth keeping in mind, even if your child’s vision seems perfectly fine today.
Signs your child may be short-sighted
Children rarely say their vision is blurry, because they often do not realise it should be any different. Instead, the clues tend to show up in their behaviour. Look out for:
- Sitting very close to the television, or holding a tablet or book right up to their face
- Squinting or screwing up their eyes to see things in the distance
- Saying the school board, road signs or the television looks blurry
- Rubbing their eyes often or complaining of frequent headaches
- Struggling to copy from the board, or wanting to sit nearer the front at school
If any of these sound familiar, it is worth booking an eye examination. Short-sightedness is quick and painless to check for, and the earlier it is picked up, the more we can do to slow it down.
Why slowing myopia down matters
It is tempting to think of short-sightedness as nothing more than an inconvenience that a pair of glasses will fix. For everyday vision, that is true. But the level of myopia your child reaches as an adult matters for their long-term eye health.
Higher levels of short-sightedness are linked to a greater risk of serious eye conditions in later life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and changes at the back of the eye known as myopic maculopathy. These risks rise with the degree of myopia.
So the aim of myopia management is simple. By slowing how quickly your child’s short-sightedness progresses, we help keep their final prescription lower, which in turn helps protect their eyes for the years ahead. Standard glasses and contact lenses correct your child’s vision, but they do nothing to slow the underlying change. Myopia management is designed to do both, giving clear vision now while working to slow progression at the same time.
The two main approaches to myopia management
There is no single right answer for every child. The best approach depends on their age, their prescription, their lifestyle and how confident they are with lenses. During a consultation, we will help you weigh it up. Here is how the two approaches compare at a glance.
| MiSight 1-day contact lenses | MiYOSMART spectacle lenses | |
| Format | Soft daily disposable contact lens | Everyday glasses lens |
| How it works | ActivControl technology helps slow eye growth | DIMS technology helps slow eye growth |
| Best suited to | Children are happy with a daily lens, from around age 8 | Children who prefer glasses or are not ready for lenses |
| Wearing it | A fresh pair each day, no cleaning needed | Worn all day, just like normal glasses |
| The evidence | Around 59% less progression over 3 years vs a standard lens | Around 60% less progression over 2 years vs a standard lens |
Figures are averages from clinical trials. Every child is different, so individual results will vary.
MiSight 1-day contact lenses
MiSight is the first soft contact lens designed specifically to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children. It is a daily disposable, so your child puts in a fresh pair each morning and throws them away at night. There is no cleaning, no storage and a lower risk of infection, which makes it a reassuring option for younger wearers.
In a three-year clinical trial, children wearing MiSight had around 59% less myopia progression than those in standard lenses, and follow-up studies have shown the benefit is sustained over the longer term. Many children take to daily lenses far more easily than parents expect, and the freedom from glasses for sport and play is often a welcome bonus.
Spectacle lenses such as MiYOSMART
If your child is not quite ready for contact lenses, spectacle lenses offer myopia management in the form of everyday glasses. MiYOSMART is the best-known example. The lenses look like ordinary spectacle lenses, but they use a special design called DIMS to gently slow the growth of the eye while keeping vision clear.
In a two-year clinical trial, children wearing MiYOSMART lenses had, on average, around 60% less myopia progression than those in standard lenses, with longer studies showing the effect holds over time. For many children, this is an easy place to start, because the lenses fit naturally into their routine. They simply wear their glasses as usual.
| NOT SURE WHICH OPTION SUITS YOUR CHILD?
That is exactly what a consultation is for. We will examine your child’s eyes, explain your choices in plain language, and recommend the approach we believe is best. Book an appointment or call 020 7586 5508. |
The part that does not cost a thing
Alongside lenses, there is strong evidence that time spent outdoors helps protect against short-sightedness developing in the first place. Natural daylight appears to play a genuine role in healthy eye growth.
It is not a cure, and it will not replace proper myopia management once short-sightedness has taken hold. But encouraging your child to spend more time outside, and to take regular breaks from close-up screen work, is a simple habit that supports everything else. We are always happy to talk through practical changes that fit around family life.
Why families across North London choose Perspective
Myopia management is not something to hand over at a counter. These lenses need to be fitted properly, and your child’s progress needs to be tracked carefully over time, so we can see that the chosen approach is working and adjust it if needed.
That is where we come in. Our practice is led by Rupal Shah, who holds a postgraduate diploma in Clinical Optometry with distinction, along with postgraduate training in children’s eye care. Appointments are unhurried, and we take real time to put younger patients at ease. Where a child needs care beyond our scope, we have an established referral pathway to leading ophthalmologists.
Families come to us from Belsize Park, Hampstead, Primrose Hill and Camden, and a little further afield, because they want their child’s eyes looked after by people who genuinely care about the outcome.
What to expect at a myopia consultation
If you decide to look into it, the first step is simply a thorough eye examination. We will check your child’s vision, measure their prescription and look closely at the health of their eyes. If short-sightedness is present, we will talk to you about whether myopia management is suitable and which option fits your child best.
From there, the lenses are fitted, and your child’s progress is reviewed at regular check-ups, so we can confirm the chosen approach is working and adjust it if needed. It is an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off appointment, which is exactly how this kind of care should work.
You will find our examination and lens costs set out clearly on our pricing and FAQ page, and we are always happy to explain exactly what is involved before you commit to anything.
| GIVE YOUR CHILD’S EYES THE BEST POSSIBLE START
Book a children’s eye examination at Perspective Optometrists in Belsize Park, or call us on 020 7586 5508 to talk myopia management through with our friendly team. |
Frequently asked questions
What is myopia management?
Myopia management is a set of proven treatments that slow down how quickly a child’s short-sightedness gets worse. Rather than simply correcting blurred vision, the aim is to reduce the final level of short-sightedness your child reaches as an adult, which helps protect their long-term eye health.
At what age can my child start myopia management?
Myopia management works best when it begins early, while the eyes are still growing. MiSight contact lenses have been clinically studied in children from around the age of eight. The right starting point depends on your child, which we will assess during their examination.
How much can it slow my child’s short-sightedness?
In clinical trials, MiSight contact lenses reduced myopia progression by around 59% over three years, and MiYOSMART lenses by around 60% over two years, compared with standard lenses. These are averages, and every child is different, so we cannot promise a specific result. What we can say is that the evidence behind both options is strong.
Are daily contact lenses safe for children?
Yes. MiSight lenses are daily disposables, so there is no cleaning or storage and a fresh, sterile pair is used each day, which keeps the risk of infection low. Many children manage them very well, and we will teach both you and your child how to handle them safely.
What is the difference between MiSight and MiYOSMART?
MiSight is a daily disposable contact lens, while MiYOSMART is a spectacle lens worn as everyday glasses. Both are designed to slow the progression of short-sightedness. The best choice comes down to your child’s age, prescription, lifestyle and how comfortable they are with contact lenses.
Will the benefit last after my child stops treatment?
Long-term studies of these lenses suggest the slowing effect is retained, with no sudden rebound once treatment ends. We will guide you on the right time to review or step down treatment as your child grows.
Do you offer myopia management near me?
Yes. We provide myopia management at our practice in Belsize Park, easily reached from Hampstead, Primrose Hill, Camden and across North London. Get in touch to arrange a consultation.
