Myopia Control
Is your child's vision getting worse each year?
Myopia (short-sightedness) in children typically progresses year on year — often by half a dioptre or more annually. The higher the prescription reaches, the greater the lifelong risk of serious eye conditions including retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
The good news: evidence-based treatments can slow progression by over 50%. The earlier they start, the greater the effect.
Risk Assessment
Myopia risk calculator
Answer five questions to understand your child's risk profile and see their projected adult prescription.
How old is your child?
What is their current spectacle prescription (most myopic eye)?
Do either of the parents wear glasses or contacts for distance?
How much time does your child spend outdoors each day?
Outdoor light exposure has a protective effect against myopia onset and progression.
How much time does your child spend on screens or near work (reading, homework) each day?
Treatment Options
Three clinically-proven approaches
All three options are available at Spectacle and can be combined. The most appropriate choice depends on your child's age, prescription, and lifestyle.
MiyoSmart Spectacles
Hoya
−52%
progression reduction
Specially designed lenses with DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) technology that creates myopic defocus signals across the peripheral retina, slowing eye growth.
Best for: Younger children, first-line treatment, those not yet ready for contact lenses
Available from age 5
MiSight 1 Day
CooperVision
−59%
progression reduction
A daily disposable soft contact lens with ActivControl® technology. The first contact lens approved by the FDA specifically for slowing myopia progression in children.
Best for: Children aged 8+, those who want freedom from spectacles during the day
Available from age 8
Ortho-K
EyeDream · Menicon Bloom
−57%
progression reduction
Specially designed rigid lenses worn overnight. They gently reshape the corneal surface during sleep so no lenses or glasses are needed during the day. Strong evidence for slowing axial elongation.
Best for: Active children and teenagers, those who play sport, families wanting daytime spectacle-free vision
Available from age 7
Outdoor Time
Universal recommendation — all ages
Multiple large studies have shown that 2 or more hours of outdoor time per day significantly reduces the risk of myopia onset and may slow progression. Bright outdoor light is thought to stimulate dopamine release in the retina, inhibiting eye growth. This is a free, risk-free intervention that should complement any clinical treatment.
What about atropine eye drops?
Low-dose atropine (0.01–0.05%) has good clinical evidence for slowing myopia progression, particularly in younger children. However, it is not currently commercially licensed in the UK and requires a specialist unlicensed medicines pathway. It is not something we are currently able to prescribe. Your optometrist can refer to a specialist paediatric ophthalmologist if this is something you wish to explore.
Why Act Early
The earlier treatment starts, the greater the benefit
More years of effect
A child who starts Ortho-K at age 8 has over a decade for the treatment to slow progression — compared to a teenager who starts at 14 with only a few years before natural stabilisation.
Lower final prescription
Each dioptre prevented matters. A child who would reach −5.50 D untreated may finish at −2.75 D with treatment — a difference that significantly reduces lifetime eye disease risk.
Lifelong eye health
Myopia above −3.00 D significantly increases the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Reducing the final prescription directly reduces these risks.
Spectacle · Claygate, Surrey
Ready to protect your child's vision?
Book an eye examination at our clinic in Claygate, Surrey and mention myopia control — we'll assess your child's eyes, discuss the right treatment for their lifestyle, and establish a monitoring plan.
37 The Parade, Claygate, Esher, Surrey KT10 0PD · 01372 897 565
Clinical basis: Projection estimates use age-adjusted progression rates derived from the Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) global myopia report and IMI (International Myopia Institute) white papers. Treatment efficacy figures: MiyoSmart −52% (Lam et al., 2020); MiSight −59% (Chamberlain et al., 2019); Ortho-K −57% (combined literature estimate, Cho & Cheung). This tool provides educational estimates only and does not constitute clinical advice. Reviewed by Danish Sheikh BSc(Hons) MCOptom DipTp(IP), March 2026.