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Myopia, short-sightedness, is one of the fastest-growing health concerns of the 21st century. Globally, the prevalence of myopia in children is rising rapidly, and children today are becoming short-sighted younger, and progressing faster than previous generations. This matters because myopia is not just about needing glasses: high myopia significantly increases the risk of serious, sight-threatening complications in later life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic macular degeneration. At Clinica London, our specialist team offers the full range of clinically proven myopia management treatments to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children, protecting not just their vision today, but their eye health for life. You do not need a GP referral to book a consultation.
Myopia (short-sightedness) occurs when the eye grows slightly too long, causing light to focus in front of the retina rather than on it. Distant objects appear blurred; near objects are clear. It typically begins in childhood and progresses throughout the school years, usually stabilising in the late teens or early twenties.
The global myopia epidemic is strongly linked to modern lifestyles, specifically reduced time outdoors and increased near work (screens, reading, tablets). Children in the UK are spending more time indoors and starting close-up screen use earlier. This environmental shift is the primary driver of the dramatic rise in myopia prevalence.
Myopia management refers to treatments that actively slow the progression of short-sightedness, rather than simply correcting it with standard glasses. Standard glasses give clear vision, but do nothing to stop the eye from continuing to grow longer. Myopia management treatments are proven to slow axial elongation and reduce the final level of myopia a child reaches.
The earlier myopia management begins, the better. Myopia tends to progress most rapidly between the ages of 7 and 14. Starting treatment promptly after diagnosis gives the best chance of limiting overall progression. Children as young as 6 can be assessed and treated at Clinica London.
No, and this is why specialist assessment matters. Different treatments suit different children, depending on age, degree of myopia, rate of progression, lifestyle and whether contact lenses are appropriate. Mr Johnson Neo assesses each patient thoroughly before making any recommendation.
A myopia management appointment includes a cycloplegic refraction (using dilating drops for an accurate glasses prescription), axial length measurement, assessment of risk factors for progression, and a full discussion of the treatment options. Follow-up appointments monitor progression and adjust treatment as needed.
We offer the full range of clinically proven myopia control treatments, prescribed individually following a thorough assessment. No single treatment is right for every child; the best plan is one that is tailored to your child's degree of myopia, age, rate of progression and lifestyle.
Specialist spectacle lenses, such as DIMS (Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments) lenses and Essilor Stellest lenses, are designed to simultaneously correct myopia and create peripheral defocus on the retina that signals the eye to slow its growth. These are worn as ordinary glasses, making them an excellent first-line option for younger children or those not yet ready for contact lenses.
Myopia control lenses have demonstrated approximately 30 to 50% reduction in axial elongation compared to standard single-vision spectacle lenses in clinical trials, and are CE-marked in Europe.
Low-dose atropine 0.1mg/ml instilled nightly is one of the most extensively studied myopia control treatments in children, slowing the growth of the eye through retinal mechanisms. At this concentration (0.01%), side effects are minimal, making it well tolerated for long-term use. It can be used alone or combined with optical treatments for children with faster myopia progression.
This concentration is available as a licensed medicine in the UK, prescribed for children aged 3 to 14 whose myopia is progressing. Clinical trials show 30–60% reduction in myopia progression depending on concentration, aiming to slow progression in children with myopia of 0.5 to 6.0 dioptres.
MiSight 1 day (CooperVision) are soft daily disposable contact lenses with a concentric dual-focus design. The central zone corrects distance vision while peripheral rings create simultaneous myopic defocus, signalling the eye to slow its growth. MiSight are worn during the day and discarded each night.
MiSight lenses have demonstrated approximately 59% reduction in myopia progression in clinical trials and are suitable for children from around age 8 who are able to manage contact lens wear with appropriate parental support. Regular follow-up is essential.
Orthokeratology uses custom-designed rigid gas-permeable lenses worn overnight to gently reshape the cornea while the child sleeps. The lenses are removed in the morning, and the child can see clearly throughout the day without glasses or contact lenses, making this popular with children who play sport or swim.
Ortho-K has demonstrated 35 to 45% reduction in axial elongation and is a well-established, reversible treatment. As it involves overnight lens wear, a thorough suitability assessment, careful hygiene training and regular monitoring are essential. Mr Johnson Neo will assess whether Ortho-K is appropriate for your child.
For children with rapid myopia progression, combining treatments, most commonly orthokeratology with low-dose atropine, can provide additive or synergistic control beyond what either treatment achieves alone. The combination of orthokeratology and 0.01% atropine currently has the strongest evidence base for combination therapy. Mr Johnson Neo will discuss whether combination treatment is appropriate for your child.
A myopia management assessment at Clinica London is a thorough, unhurried appointment led by Mr Johnson Neo. It covers everything needed to make an accurate assessment of your child's myopia and recommend the right treatment plan.
Mr Neo will take a detailed history, including the age at which myopia began, how quickly it has progressed, family history of myopia, time spent outdoors, screen habits and any previous treatment. Risk factors for fast progression inform the urgency and intensity of the treatment plan.
If required, dilating drops are used to relax the focusing muscles of the eye, allowing an accurate measurement of the true refractive error. The drops sting briefly and take around 20 to 30 minutes to work. Vision will be blurred for a few hours after the appointment.
The length of the eyeball (axial length) is measured using non-contact biometry. This is the most important objective measure of myopia progression, as it directly reflects how much the eye has grown. Baseline axial length is compared at subsequent visits to monitor whether treatment is working.
Mr Neo will explain the options appropriate for your child, considering age, degree of myopia, rate of progression, lifestyle and suitability for contact lenses, including the evidence and any side effects. There is no obligation to proceed with any treatment at the first appointment.
If spectacle lenses are chosen, a prescription for myopia control lenses will be provided. If contact lenses are recommended, a fitting appointment will be arranged. If atropine drops are prescribed, guidance on administration will be given.
Myopia management is a long-term commitment. Follow-up appointments, typically every 6 months, track axial length and prescription change, assess treatment effectiveness and adjust the plan as your child grows, usually until myopia stabilises in the late teenage years.
Myopia management at Clinica London is led by Mr Johnson Neo, our childhood myopia specialist and a member of both the International Tear Health Academy and the European Dry Eye Society. Mr Neo sees children from age 6 for myopia management, paediatric corneal disease and ocular allergy.
A multiple award-winning consultant trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Mr Neo is a childhood myopia specialist offering the full range of myopia management treatments. He sees children from age 6 for myopia assessment, management and paediatric corneal disease, keratoconus and ocular allergy.
Early diagnosis and treatment gives the best chance of slowing myopia progression. No GP referral needed.
Book a children's eye assessmentAll fees are for private appointments at 140 Harley Street. Treatment costs such as specialist lenses, contact lenses and atropine drops are additional to consultation fees. A full estimate will be provided at your appointment.
| Appointment / Treatment | Fee |
|---|---|
| New patient consultation, Mr Johnson Neo (not including diagnostic tests) | £300–£350 |
| Myopia management follow-up appointment | £250–£315 |
| Axial length measurement in myopic child | From £75 |
| Cycloplegic refraction | From £85 |
| Specialist myopia control spectacle lens prescription | Fee on enquiry |
| MiSight contact lens fitting and trial | Fee on enquiry |
| Orthokeratology assessment and fitting | Fee on enquiry |
| Low-dose atropine prescription | £80 |
Many parents assume that myopia simply means their child needs glasses, and that once they have the right prescription, the problem is solved. In fact, the degree of myopia a child reaches by adulthood determines their long-term risk of serious eye disease, independent of whether they wear glasses or contact lenses.
High myopia stretches and thins the retina, significantly increasing the risk of a retinal tear or detachment, a sight-threatening emergency. The risk rises sharply as the degree of myopia increases beyond ‑3.00 dioptres.
In high myopia, the stretching of the posterior eye can damage the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central, detailed vision. This can cause progressive, irreversible central vision loss in later life.
Highly myopic eyes have a significantly elevated risk of developing glaucoma and early-onset cataract. These are treatable conditions, but they represent a real and preventable long-term burden that myopia management can help to reduce.
Spending at least 60 to 90 minutes outdoors daily is the most consistently evidence-supported environmental factor for slowing myopia. Reducing continuous near work and screen breaks help too, but complement rather than replace clinical treatment.
Help protect your child's long-term eye health. No GP referral needed.
Book a children's eye assessment
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