Blog: #MyopiaAndMe

A new study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology ( Factors influencing glaucoma severity in highly myopic glaucoma, 2025 ) adds important insight into how glaucoma behaves in people with high myopia. While glaucoma is often thought of as an adult eye disease, its connection to childhood myopia matters to parents, because today’s myopic child is more likely to become a highly myopic adult—bringing higher lifetime risks. What is glaucoma and why does myopia matter? Glaucoma

A new study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology reports that children born to mothers of advanced reproductive age are more likely to develop myopia (nearsightedness). While “advanced maternal age” is often defined as 35 years and older, the key takeaway for parents is not to worry or feel blame—rather, to understand that parental age is one of many factors that can influence a child’s vision and to focus on proactive steps that protect eye health. What the study means fo

Myopia (nearsightedness) is now one of the most common vision problems in school-age children. But it’s not just about blurry distance vision. A recent study of Chinese middle school students looked at how myopia relates to depression—and asked an important question: does wearing eyeglasses play a role in that connection? What the study found Researchers surveyed a large group of middle schoolers in China using standard questions about mood and mental health, along with infor

If you’re a parent worried about nearsightedness (myopia) or someone managing myopia yourself, you’ve probably heard the advice: spend more time outdoors. A new analysis published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology—“Time outdoors prevents myopia in hyperopic children, but protection is weaker in premyopic children: a post-hoc analysis of a cluster-randomised trial”—adds an important nuance. Outdoor time does help lower the risk of myopia, but its protective effect is str

At Myopia Focus, we recognise practices raising standards in childhood myopia care. Hammond and Dummer Bespoke Opticians were named Myopia Management Practice of the Year 2025, reflecting a thoughtful, family-centred approach. Led by Claire Ranger, the practice offers evidence-based care tailored to each child, highlighting why specialist myopia support matters more than ever.

Refraction is the part of an eye exam that measures how your child’s eyes focus light, so the optometrist can determine the best prescription for clear vision. For children with myopia (nearsightedness), accurate refraction is essential—not just for seeing clearly, but also for tracking progression and guiding myopia management. What happens during a refraction eye exam: Autorefractor : Your child may first look into a machine that gives an initial estimate of their prescript

If you or your partner are nearsighted, it’s natural to ask: is myopia genetic? The short answer is yes—myopia (short‑sightedness) tends to run in families—but genes are only part of the picture. A major scientific review, Myopia Genetics and Heredity , brings together decades of research and shows that both inherited risk and a child’s daily environment shape whether myopia develops and how fast it progresses. What the study found Strong heredity: Family and twin studies su

If you or your child is nearsighted, you’ve probably wondered: what is an ophthalmologist, and do we need to see one? An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who specializes in eye and vision care. They diagnose and treat eye diseases, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and perform eye surgery. For people with myopia (short-sightedness), an ophthalmologist can play a key role in preventing complications and slowing progression, especially in children. Ophthalmolo

If you’re trying to understand who to see for short-sightedness (myopia) — either for yourself or your child, here’s a clear, simple guide to what optometrists do, how they help manage myopia, and when to book an eye test. What is an optometrist? An optometrist is a primary eye care professional who examines your eyes, tests your vision, prescribes glasses or contact lenses, and checks for common eye conditions. They use specialist equipment to measure how well you see and ho

An “optician” often refers to the place you go for an eye test. But within eye care, an optician is usually a dispensing optician. They are trained professionals who help you choose, fit, and adjust glasses and contact lenses based on a prescription. They make sure your lenses match your prescription, sit correctly, and suit your lifestyle. They do not typically perform full eye examinations or diagnose eye disease. Types of eye care professionals Understanding the difference

If your child is short-sighted (myopic), you’ve probably wondered: how long is an eye prescription good for? The short answer is that a glasses prescription is a snapshot of your child’s vision on the day of the eye test. Children’s eyes can change quickly, especially when myopia is progressing, so relying on an old prescription can leave them struggling to see clearly and may delay important myopia management. How long does a glasses prescription last in practice? In the UK,

If your child is short‑sighted (myopic), you’ve probably wondered whether laser eye surgery could “fix” their vision. Laser vision correction can be highly effective for adults, but it isn’t suitable for children and doesn’t treat the underlying cause of myopia. Here’s a clear, parent‑friendly guide to how laser eye surgery works, when it’s considered, and what you can do now to manage your child’s myopia. What is laser eye surgery? Laser vision correction reshapes the clear

If your child has been diagnosed with myopia (short-sightedness), you’ve probably heard terms like “20/20 vision” during eye tests. But what is 20/20 vision, does it mean perfect eyesight, and how does it relate to children with myopia? Here’s a clear, parent-friendly guide. What is 20/20 vision? 20/20 vision describes visual acuity — how clearly someone can see at a standard distance on an eye chart. In the UK you may also see 6/6, which is the metric equivalent of 20/20. If

Wondering if your child is ready for contact lenses? Find out how safe contacts are for children, what age is appropriate, and how to tell if your child is ready, with guidance from Myopia Focus.”

Diabetic eye exams explained If you live with diabetes, a regular diabetic eye exam (also called diabetic eye screening) is one of the most important checks you can attend. Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eye (the retina), causing diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. These conditions often have no early symptoms, but early detection and treatment can prevent or reduce sight loss. Eye screening vs regular eye test A diabetic eye scree

If your child is short‑sighted (myopic), you’ve probably heard about orthokeratology (Ortho‑K) contact lenses and low‑dose atropine eye drops. A recent peer‑reviewed study in BMC Ophthalmology, “ Longitudinal safety and efficacy of dual treatment with orthokeratology lenses and 0.01% atropine eye drops: a focus on epithelial changes and tear film stability ,” adds helpful reassurance for families considering this combination approach What the study looked at and why it matter

There has been a major development in childhood myopia management in the UK. For the first time, low-dose atropine (LDA) – one of the most widely researched and evidence-backed treatments for slowing myopia progression – has received regulatory approval.

If your child is short-sighted (myopic) or you’re noticing distance blur yourself, it can be confusing to know which eye professional to book with. Here’s a simple guide to the difference between an optician, an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, and how each supports children and adults with myopia. Quick definitions Optometrist: Your primary eye care clinician. Tests eyesight, diagnoses myopia, checks eye health, prescribes glasses and contact lenses, and provides myopia m

High myopia stretches the eye and is linked with earlier and more frequent cataract formation. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens that causes blur, glare and faded colours. What are cataracts and why they form earlier in high myopia The lens inside the eye focuses light. With age—and more commonly in highly myopic eyes—the lens becomes cloudy. Possible reasons include: Metabolic and structural stress in long eyes Oxidative changes that build up over time Prior

In high myopia, the eye is longer than normal. This changes the shape of the optic nerve and the surrounding tissues. Those structural changes raise the risk of glaucoma—damage to the optic nerve that can quietly steal vision over time. What is glaucoma? Glaucoma is a group of conditions where the optic nerve is damaged, often associated with elevated eye pressure, though damage can occur even at “normal” pressures. It typically affects side (peripheral) vision first and can