DAY 2 – Understand What Myopia Really Is and Why It Matters

Welcome to Day 2 of Myopia Awareness Week 2025 – and thank you to everyone who took action yesterday by booking an eye test or sharing our message. Today, we’re keeping it simple: take 15 minutes to learn what myopia actually is — and why it’s something we can’t afford to ignore.

Day 2: Understand What Myopia Really Is and Why it Matters. #MyopiaAwarenessWeek2025

👓 So, what is myopia?

To get to the point quickly in this short blog post, myopia, also known as short-sightedness, means that distant objects appear blurry, while close-up vision is clear. It’s (predominantly) caused by the eye growing slightly too long, and once it starts, it usually progresses through childhood.

But here’s the thing most parents don’t know:It’s not just about blurry vision or needing stronger glasses every year. Myopia is progressive, and higher levels are linked with a much greater risk of serious eye diseases later in life — including retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration.

📊 A few things we think all parents should know:

• The number of children with myopia has doubled in the UK over the past 50 years

• Children as young as 5 can develop myopia — and it often goes unnoticed

• The younger myopia starts, the faster it tends to progress

• Myopia is partly genetic, but lifestyle factors like screen time, near work, and time outdoors have a big influence

• We can slow it down — with evidence-based myopia management

(Source: Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2022)

📖 ACTION FOR TODAY:

Spend just 15 minutes learning more about myopia.

Start with these pages:

• 👉 What is Myopia? – Myopia Focus

• 👉 Myopia Management Explained

• 👉 FAQs for Parents

The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel about your next steps - when you see the optometrist (See our Day 1 Post!)

🧭 Want tailored support?

If you’re not sure where to go for help, or whether your optometrist offers myopia management, use our Find a Specialist tool to locate someone near you who does.

🔎 Use the Find a Specialist tool

📣 Tomorrow on Day 3:

We’ll be helping you start the conversation with your child — including how to talk to them about screens, eye health, and getting outdoors more often.

Let us know what you’ve learned today — and don’t forget to tag us in your posts using #MyopiaAwarenessWeek2025.

Come back tomorrow for our next tip!