Could your child be shortsighted? How to identify and treat the signs of myopia

Shortsightedness, also known as myopia, is an eye condition which causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. It can typically occur in children between the ages of 6 to 13 and it’s increasing at an alarming rate, with recent research predicting that half of the world will be short sighted by 2050¹.

While there’s no cure for the condition, parents can help to slow down the progression of it in their children by seeking support from eye specialists, making certain lifestyle changes and using specialist myopia management solutions.

Boots Opticians offers children's eye tests, expert advice and specialist myopia management options including Essilor® Stellest® lenses and MyDayt® MiSight® 1-day contact lenses. To help monitor eye-sight over time, mEYE® Suite by Ocumetra is available in selected stores.

Families can also benefit from seasonal offers on selected myopia management treatments, helping make ongoing eye care more accessible. 

If you’re concerned that your child may be struggling with their sight, we’ve rounded up a helpful guide to keep you informed.

What is short-sightedness and how can you spot the signs in your child?

Myopia is the clinical term for short-sightedness. Many cases of short-sightedness in children are picked up in school when teachers notice they may be struggling to read what’s on the board or see what’s happening at the front of class. 

At home, you may notice your child rubbing their eyes in discomfort, complaining of headaches or choosing to sit closely to the TV screen. 

Typically, myopia affects children between the ages of 6 to 13 years old, but their vision may still continue to worsen until 20, when the eyes stop growing.²

More and more children are suffering from myopia and that is in part due to the rise in a more indoor lifestyle and an increase in screen time.

How can myopia impact your child’s development?

It’s estimated that 80% of a child’s learning is through their vision³, so short sightedness can have a big influence on their development. They may struggle to read the words on the board, or even see the words on a page in extreme cases. 

They may not make eye contact or see a person waving or trying to interact with them. They may also not explore objects in their environment, failing to learn the correct name for them. Short sightedness could mean they fail to read non-verbal gestures and cues.⁴

How can Boots Opticians help with myopia?

If your child is identified as having myopia, Boots Opticians can help you understand the options available and what may be suitable for your child.

Boots Opticians offers myopia management solutions including Essilor® Stellest® lenses and MyDay® MiSight® 1-day contact lenses.

Boots Opticians is also the first high-street retailer to offer mEYE® Suite by Ocumetra in selected stores. This free digital tool provides parents and guardians with a personalised report to take home, showing how your child’s myopia is changing over time and how well their treatment is working. It’s designed to make it easier to feel confident about the next steps in your child’s myopia-management journey.

Essilor Stellest lenses for children

Specialist spectacle lenses designed to correct your child's vision while helping to slow the progression of myopia. Suitable for children following an assessment by a Boots Opticians optometrist. 

📣 When you buy a complete pair of prescription glasses with Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses, you'll receive a second pair free.* Depending on your child's prescription, this could be prescription sunglasses fitted with Stellest® sun lenses or, where appropriate, a second pair of clear Stellest® lenses. 

You can also upgrade the free Boots frame to another eligible frame for half price.

How can Essilor® Stellest® lenses help manage myopia? 

Prescription lenses can be worn to correct blurred vision, but specialist myopia control lenses may also help to slow down the progression of myopia.⁵

While traditional glasses correct blurry vision, Essilor® Stellest® lenses go further. They are designed to help slow the progression of myopia in children, while also correcting their vision.

That’s because they’re designed with technology to:

• Correct myopia, providing sharper focus.

• Control myopia: slowing down myopia progression by 67% on average when worn at least 12 hours a day, every day.⁵

^{Essilor® Stellest® lenses are also available in sun tints to offer protection outdoors.}

What about contact lenses?

MyDay® MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are specially designed for children with myopia. They correct short-sightedness while helping to slow its progression. As daily disposable lenses, they require no cleaning or storage, making them easy and fuss-free to use. 

Why is myopia on the rise?

A 2024 study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology found that children’s eyesight is getting worse, with one in three children now short-sighted or unable to see things in the distance clearly.

The research also predicted that half the world will be short-sighted by the year 2050.

Genetics can have a big impact, with research stating that a child whose parents are both short-sighted is five times more likely to become so. Environmental factors can also play a part, with studies finding that spending less time outdoors and engaging in high levels of near work could increase the chances of short-sightedness in children.

A report from the College of Optometrists in 2023 indicated that cases of myopia among children aged 5 to 16 have risen by 12% over the past five years in the UK, with many experts attributing this increase to prolonged screen exposure.

Can myopia lead to other complications?

Some adults with severe short-sightedness are more likely to suffer with glaucoma, detached retina and cataracts. Regular monitoring by an eye specialist can keep a close watch and spot the early signs of these conditions, should they occur.

Does myopia have a cure?

Myopia cannot be cured, and regular monitoring by an eye care professional is essential, especially if myopia progression is suspected.

The younger a child is when they develop myopia, the faster it may progress, which is why early identification and ongoing monitoring are so important.

How can parents help to slow down myopic progression?

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their child’s eye health. Key strategies include:

• Get outdoors: Encourage your child to spend at least two hours a day outside. In the winter, wrap them up in layers and take a longer walk to school.

• Reduce screen time: Screens are part and parcel of modern life, but try to set boundaries. Many tablets allow you to set time limits with parental controls.

• Adopt the 20-20-20 rule: A helpful way to reduce the risk of eyestrain is to encourage your child to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

• Book regular eye examinations: While myopia can’t be cured or reversed, regular eye examinations and monitoring can help spot changes early and help you understand the best next steps for your child.

About Boots Opticians

Boots Opticians provides eye tests, prescription glasses, contact lenses and expert eye care for adults and children. Its optometrists can help diagnose short-sightedness and advise on myopia management options for children, including specialist lenses and monitoring tools designed to help parents better understand their child’s eye health.About Essilor®

Essilor®, part of EssilorLuxottica’s portfolio, is a leader in eyeglass lenses worldwide⁹ and the number one lens brand recommended by eye care professionals (ECP)¹⁰. It offers a complete range of solutions dedicated to each individual's vision and lifestyle needs throughout their life. Every Essilor® lens is a combination of multiple complementary technologies thanks to its suite of leading premium vision care solutions, including innovative brands such as Stellest®, Eyezen® and Varilux® and Crizal®. These groundbreaking technologies correct vision, protect eyes from UV rays and enhance visual clarity. 

About the author

Kat Romero is a writer and journalist with over a decade’s experience in the industry. Hailing from London, she has become experienced in scouring the market to find the latest and best products, services and events that are worth your purchase. As a mother herself, she knows all too well how hard it can be to plan Christmas events with children. So, you can trust that she’s fully invested in making sure you receive the best recommendations.

Away from her desk, Kat can be found consuming far too much coffee and spending her weekends with her toddler and partner - soaking up the sights of London and sampling anything new and exciting that has opened up within walking distance.

*compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours per day every day for two consecutive years.

**Offer applies to MyDay® MiSight® 1 day contact lenses only. Contact Lens Rewards Plan terms apply. Sight test charges may apply where required. Payment details for ongoing subscription are needed. Offer ends 31 October 2026.

¹Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, Jong M, Naidoo KS, Sankaridurg P, Wong TY, Naduvilath TJ, Resnikoff S. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016 May 1;123(5):1036-42.

²Short-sightedness (myopia), https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/

³Eyeglasses for Global Development: Bridging the Visual Divide; World Economic Forum, Social Entrepreneurs, EYElliance; June 2016.

⁴ Visual impairment, https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/

⁵ Bao J, Huang Y, Li X, Yang A, Zhou F, Wu J, Wang C, Li Y, Lim EW, Spiegel DP, Drobe B, Chen, H. Spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets for myopia control vs single-vision spectacle lenses: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA ophthalmology. 2022;140(5):472-8. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0401