Diagnosing childhood myopia and how to treat it

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 wearing specialist lenses.

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 myopia 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.

Short sightedness can have a big influence on a child’s development

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

Can Essilor® Stellest® Lenses Help with myopia?

A new Ipsos survey⁵ commissioned by Essilor® Stellest® lenses amongst 1,000 UK parents revealed a lack of understanding around myopia in children, with 94% wrongly believing that wearing glasses will solve the problem.

Prescriptive lenses can be worn to correct blurred vision but the only way to slow down the progression of myopia is with specialist lenses. 

While traditional glasses correct blurry vision, Essilor® Stellest® lenses go further—they actively slow the progression of myopia. Essilor® is a world leader in prescriptive lenses and the brand's Stellest® lenses are an effective solution for fighting myopia in children. 

That's because they're designed with advanced technology to: 

• Correct vision, providing sharper focus.

• Slow down eye elongation, which is the root cause of myopia progression.

• Studies show that Essilor® Stellest® lenses slow down  myopia progression by 67% on average when worn for at least 12 hours a day, every day.*⁶

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.

👓 the Essilor® Eyestar™ Mission

To combat the myopia epidemic, Essilor® launched the Eyestar™ Mission, an educational initiative designed to empower children to take ownership of their eye health.

Using engaging characters like Charlie, Skyler, and Eyo, the program covers:

• How vision works and signs of myopia.

• The importance of good vision for achieving dreams.

• Healthy habits such as outdoor play, regular eye exams, and using Essilor® Stellest® lenses.

Can myopia lead to other complications?

Young children with short-sightedness are more likely to get a squint or a lazy eye, while 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.¹

Gizem Topdagi at Essilor® delivered the Eyestar™ Mission at a recent Class of Myopia event for families

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 will progress.

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 the parental locks.

• Adopt the 20-20-20 rule: A helpful way to reduce the risk of eyestrain is to encourage your child to have a 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 slow the progression and monitor any other potential conditions.

Children taking part in the Eyestar™ Mission at the Class of Myopia event

An expert answers Mumsnet user questions

We recently partnered with Essilor®’s expert dispensing optician Charlotte Timbury in a Mumsnet Ask the Expert to address common questions about childhood myopia:

Q: “If both parents are short sighted what are the chances of children being so as well?” Crampulet

A: "Family history of myopia is a significant factor to determine if a child will become myopic. 

“A child whose parents are both myopic is, for example, up to five times more likely to become so. If one parent is myopic, the child may be twice as likely to develop myopia than a child with parents unaffected by the condition ^7,8.”

Q: "Can it be cured?” SkylarH

A: “Myopia cannot be "cured," but in some cases, natural changes in the eye over time can reduce the degree of short-sightedness, which may make you less reliant on glasses. 

“However, in cases where myopia is progressive, it is typically associated with the elongation of the eyeball. This causes light to focus in front of the retina, leading to blurry distance vision, and unfortunately, this is unlikely to improve with age. Regular monitoring by an eye care professional is essential, especially if myopia progression is suspected.”

Q: “My daughter has specialist myopia lenses, could she wear contacts or not due to the myopia lenses which are aiming to stop/ reduce the increase in prescription?” Cantthinkofadifferentname 

A: “A key factor in achieving success with myopia control solutions (glasses and contact lenses) is the duration of wear- basically the longer she can wear them, the better the results we would expect to see. 

“So I would advise her to wear her myopia spectacle lenses for the majority of the day and just use contact lenses for occasional use. Alternatively, you could explore myopia progression control contact lenses to see if they are also an option for her.”

About EssilorLuxottica

This multinational corporation specialise in the design and sale of a range of frames, ophthalmic lenses, optical equipment and instruments. The brand's main mission is to help eliminate uncorrected poor vision in a generation. 

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.

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.International survey conducted by Ipsos in 6 countries, involving representative samples of individuals aged from 25 to 60 in terms of age, gender, occupation, region, parents of children aged 5 to 17. UK: 1000 interviews / Italy: 1001 interviews / France: 1000 interviews / Brazil: 1001 interviews / India: 1005 interviews / China: 1000 interviews. Online interviews from June 24th to July 15th 2024

⁶ 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

⁷Jones L, Sinnott L, Mutti D, Mitchell G, Moeschberger M. Parental history of myopia, sports and outdoor activities, and future myopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007; 48(8): 3524-3532.

⁸Donovan L, Sankaridurg P, Ho A, Naduvilath T, Smith EL 3rd, Holden BA. Myopia progression rates in urban children wearing single-vision spectacles. Optom Vis Sci. 2012;89(1):27-32. doi:10.1097/OPX.0b013e3182357f79"

⁹Source: Euromonitor, Eyewear 2023 edition; Essilor International company; worldwide retail value sales at RSP.  

¹⁰Quantitative research conducted among a representative sample of 958 independent ECPs by CSA in February 2019 – France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, the US, Canada, Brazil, China, India.