What is myopia, and why is it increasing?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, means distant objects look blurry while near objects stay clear. It happens when the eye grows a little too long from front to back, so light focuses just in front of the retina instead of on it. That length of the eyeball is called the axial length, and it is the real measure of myopia. In children, the eye is still growing, which is exactly why both the axial length and the glasses prescription can keep climbing year after year.
Rates of childhood myopia have climbed sharply over the last generation. Researchers point to two big lifestyle shifts: more time on near work and screens, and less time outdoors in daylight. Time spent outside, in particular, appears to be protective for developing eyes. None of this means a parent did anything wrong. It simply means more children today reach higher prescriptions earlier.
Why slowing it down matters
It is tempting to think of nearsightedness as just a matter of needing glasses. But the real issue is how long the eye becomes, its axial length, and the level it reaches by adulthood matters for long term eye health. A longer eye, along with the stronger prescription that comes with it, is associated with a higher lifetime risk of certain eye conditions later in life. That is why eye care has shifted toward actively slowing the eye's growth rather than simply updating the lenses each year.
The goal of myopia control is straightforward: keep both the prescription and the axial length, the length of the eyeball, as low as possible. The axial length is the real issue in myopia, because it is the eye growing too long that drives the prescription up and carries the long term risk. No approach stops myopia entirely, and every child is different, but slowing how fast the eye lengthens during the growing years is a meaningful, evidence based goal.
The evidence-based options
Over the past decade, several methods have been studied in clinical trials and shown to slow myopia progression compared with regular single vision glasses. The right one depends on your child. Here are the main approaches we discuss:
Low-dose atropine eye drops
A small drop placed in the eyes at bedtime. Used in low concentrations, it has been shown to slow progression while keeping side effects minimal for most children. It can be used on its own or alongside other methods.
Soft multifocal contact lenses
Daily contact lenses designed specifically for myopia control. They are worn during the day like normal contacts and are a comfortable option for many school age children who are ready for lenses.
Myopia control spectacle lenses
Glasses lenses built with special zones that help slow eye growth while giving clear vision. We fit MiyoSmart and Myoeye by Specsavers lenses, a good fit for children who are not ready for contact lenses but whose prescription keeps rising.
Results vary from child to child, and suitability depends on age, prescription, eye health, and daily routine. That is why the choice is made together, after a proper assessment, rather than from a list.
When to start and what an assessment involves
Myopia control tends to work best when it begins early, soon after nearsightedness is first found, because the fastest changes often happen in younger children. If you have noticed your child's prescription increasing each year, that is the signal to look into it.
It starts with a comprehensive eye exam. We check your child's vision and the full health of their eyes, including OCT retinal imaging at no extra charge. We also take precise measurements of the axial length, the length of the eye itself, which is the most accurate way to track how a child's myopia is changing over time and to see whether treatment is working. From there we walk you through the suitable options in plain language, so you can make an informed choice for your family.
Our myopia program in Surrey
At Guildford Eye Clinic, our myopia control program is led by Dr. Lin and is built around four pillars: precise measurement, risk assessment, customized treatment, and tracking each child carefully over time. We are inside Specsavers at Guildford Town Centre, with easy mall parking, and we care for the whole family in one place.
A full eye exam is covered yearly by MSP for children 18 and under, and that exam is where we assess whether myopia control is right for your child. The myopia control treatments themselves are a separate program and are not covered by MSP, but we direct bill most insurance plans and explain every cost clearly before anything begins.
Surrey myopia control FAQ
At what age should myopia control start?
Myopia control works best when it starts early, soon after nearsightedness is first found, because the fastest progression often happens in younger children. There is no strict cutoff. If your child's prescription is increasing each year, it is worth an assessment at any age through the teens. The first step is a comprehensive eye exam.
Is myopia control covered by MSP in BC?
A full eye exam is covered yearly by MSP for children 18 and under, and that exam is where we assess whether myopia control is right for your child. The myopia control treatments themselves, such as special contact lenses, spectacle lenses, or eye drops, are a separate program and are not covered by MSP. We direct bill most insurance plans and explain all costs clearly before starting.
Does myopia control actually work?
Research over the past decade has shown that several methods can meaningfully slow how fast a child's nearsightedness increases compared with regular single vision glasses. Results vary from child to child, and no method stops myopia completely, but slowing progression lowers the chance of reaching a high prescription. We use methods supported by published clinical studies.
Which myopia control option is best for my child?
There is no single best option for every child. The right choice depends on your child's age, prescription, eye health, daily routine, and comfort with contact lenses. During the assessment we walk through the suitable options, including low dose atropine drops, soft multifocal contact lenses, and myopia control spectacle lenses such as MiyoSmart and Myoeye, and recommend the best fit.
Why does slowing my child's nearsightedness matter?
Beyond needing thicker glasses, the real concern is the length of the eye, called the axial length. A longer eye is associated with a higher lifetime risk of certain eye conditions later in life. Slowing progression in childhood helps keep both the prescription and the axial length lower, which is better for long term eye health. This is why early myopia control has become a focus in eye care.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for a personalized eye examination. Sources include the International Myopia Institute reports and published clinical trials on low concentration atropine, soft multifocal contact lenses, and myopia control spectacle lenses.