Blog: #MyopiaAndMe

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

What is myopic maculopathy? Myopic maculopathy (also called pathologic myopia or myopic macular degeneration) is damage to the macula caused by the eye’s elongation. It ranges from subtle changes to severe scarring and atrophy. Common features include: Thinning and atrophy of the retina and choroid “Lacquer cracks” (tiny breaks) in a layer under the retina Posterior staphyloma (outpouching) that distorts the eye’s shape Myopic choroidal neovascularisation (new, fragile blood

What is retinal detachment? The retina is the thin, light‑sensing layer lining the back of the eye. A retinal detachment happens when the retina peels away from its normal position. This typically starts with a small tear or hole. Fluid then slips through the tear and lifts the retina off, much like wallpaper coming loose. Without quick treatment, the detached area can expand and cause permanent vision loss. How high myopia increases the risk In highly myopic eyes, the eyebal

A large new study from Hong Kong has found that children who consumed more omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were less likely to be myopic, suggesting diet may play a helpful role alongside proven myopia management. The research, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology ( Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a protective factor of myopia: the Hong Kong Children Eye Study ), adds to a growing body of evidence linking overall health and eye growth. What are

Parents often ask why their child’s myopia (short-sightedness) seems to creep up during the school years. A growing body of research...

Myopia (short-sightedness) is rising fast around the world, and parents often worry about screens, homework, and not enough time...

Most of us have heard of dopamine—it’s that chemical tied to pleasure, reward and motivation. But here’s an interesting twist: dopamine might also play a role in short-sightedness, or myopia.

Most of us have heard of dopamine—it’s that chemical tied to pleasure, reward and motivation. But here’s an interesting twist: dopamine might also play a role in short-sightedness, or myopia.

If you’ve been following along with our blog posts this week — thank you.If you’ve taken even one small action — booked an eye test,...