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Health condition

Nearsightedness, myopia control in children - and when surgery fits.

Blurred distance vision is common and correctable. A stepped approach - glasses, myopia control and, for some adults, surgery - keeps eyes healthy long term.

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Why trust this guide

  • 01

    Editorial team

    Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.

  • 02

    Sourced from guidance

    Checked against NICE, College of Optometrists and peer-reviewed sources you can see at the end.

  • 03

    Current for 2026

    Reflects modern UK guidance including myopia control in children and refractive surgery options.

Key facts

Nearsightedness at a glance.

The essentials, in plain English - what it is, why rates are rising, and how it’s managed in the UK today.

  • What it is

    A refractive error - the eye focuses light in front of the retina, so distant objects blur while near vision stays sharp.

  • Cause

    Usually an eyeball that is slightly too long (axial) or a cornea that is too curved - often both genetic and environmental.

  • Childhood pattern

    Typically appears at school age and can progress steadily through adolescence, sometimes rapidly.

  • Rising prevalence

    Increasingly common worldwide - linked to less outdoor time and more near-work such as screens and reading.

  • High myopia risk

    Strong prescriptions carry a higher lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy.

  • Mainstay treatment

    Glasses or contact lenses correct vision - specific interventions can slow progression in children.

Why this guide matters

A rising trend, with real tools to slow it.

Myopia is more than an inconvenience of blurred vision - in children, catching it early changes the long-term picture. The three points below shape everything else on this page.

  • Myopia is on the rise

    Reduced outdoor time and more near-work have driven a global increase, particularly among children - the so-called myopia epidemic.

  • Progression can be slowed

    In children, myopia control lenses, atropine drops and outdoor time meaningfully reduce how fast the prescription worsens.

  • High myopia needs eye health monitoring

    Strong prescriptions carry a genuine long-term risk to the retina - regular dilated checks catch problems early.

How the diagnosis is made

From a blurred board to a clear plan.

The steps a UK optometrist or ophthalmologist will normally follow, in order - so you know what to expect and why.

  1. 01

    Assessing

    Vision history

    Blurred distance vision, squinting, sitting close to screens or the board, and how quickly symptoms have changed.

  2. 02

    Assessing

    Refraction testing

    A standard eye test measures the exact lens power needed to bring distant objects into focus.

  3. 03

    Assessing

    Axial length measurement

    A quick, painless scan measures the length of the eye - useful for tracking progression, especially in children.

  4. 04

    Confirming

    Progression rate review

    In children, repeat measurements over months chart how fast the prescription is changing, guiding the choice of myopia control.

  5. 05

    Confirming

    Dilated fundus examination

    For high myopia, drops widen the pupil so the retina can be checked thoroughly for thinning, holes or early detachment.

  6. 06

    Preparing

    Discussing correction options

    Glasses, contact lenses, myopia control measures or - in adults - refractive surgery are weighed against lifestyle and eye health.

  7. 07

    Preparing

    Ophthalmology referral

    Rapid progression, very high prescriptions or any retinal warning signs prompt referral for specialist assessment.

Typical timeline: a single eye test can confirm myopia; a settled management plan follows within weeks.

Symptoms

What nearsightedness actually feels like.

Blurred distance vision with clear near vision is the classic pattern. And the features that mean it’s time to seek urgent care.

  • Blurred distance vision

    Road signs, whiteboards and faces across a room look soft or out of focus - the defining symptom.

  • Clear near vision

    Reading, phones and close work usually stay sharp, which is why myopia can go unnoticed at first.

  • Squinting

    Narrowing the eyes briefly sharpens a blurred image - a common early giveaway, especially in children.

  • Sitting close or holding devices near

    Children may sit near the television or hold books and tablets closer than expected.

  • Eye strain and headaches

    Squinting and uncorrected blur can bring on tired eyes, frontal headaches and fatigue by day’s end.

  • Reduced night vision

    Glare and haloes around lights, and more difficulty judging distance, are common when driving after dark.

  • Falling behind at school

    Difficulty reading the board or a drop in class performance can be the first sign in a child.

  • Red flag - sudden flashes or floaters

    New flashes, floaters or a shadow across vision need same-day eye assessment, particularly with high myopia.

Treatment

How nearsightedness is treated in the UK.

Glasses and contact lenses correct vision at any age - myopia control slows progression in children, and surgery is an option for some adults.

  • Contact lenses

    Soft or rigid lenses correct vision without a frame - a good option for sport, work or personal preference.

  • Myopia control contact lenses

    Specially designed soft lenses (such as dual-focus or orthokeratology) slow progression in children by altering peripheral focus.

  • Low-dose atropine drops

    Nightly eye drops used off-label in children to slow the rate of myopia progression, with regular monitoring.

  • Increased outdoor time

    More time outdoors in daylight is one of the best-evidenced, simplest ways to reduce the risk of myopia developing or worsening in children.

  • LASIK

    Laser reshaping of the cornea for adults with a stable prescription who want reduced dependence on glasses.

  • PRK

    An alternative laser technique, often preferred for thinner corneas, with a slightly longer recovery than LASIK.

  • Regular retinal monitoring

    For high myopia, planned dilated eye checks watch for the retinal changes that carry long-term risk.

What this guide is based on

The sources behind every claim on this page.

UK national guidance and specialist society standards, current at the time of last review.

Key references

Guidelines and standards we relied on.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your optometrist or ophthalmologist knows your eyes and history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, get seen.

  • NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Refractive errors.

  • College of Optometrists. Clinical guidance on myopia management.

  • Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Guidance on high myopia and retinal risk.

  • International Myopia Institute. White papers on myopia control in children.

Red flags

When nearsightedness needs urgent attention.

Most myopia is straightforward to correct. These are the situations that aren’t - and where urgent or specialist eye care is needed.

  • Sudden flashes or floaters

    A shower of new floaters or flashing lights can signal a retinal tear - especially significant in high myopia and needs same-day review.

  • A curtain or shadow across vision

    This pattern can mean retinal detachment - an emergency requiring immediate ophthalmology assessment.

  • Rapid progression in a child

    A prescription changing quickly year on year deserves prompt discussion of myopia control rather than watchful waiting.

  • Very high prescription

    High myopia carries meaningfully higher lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and maculopathy and needs regular specialist review.

  • Sudden painless vision loss

    Any sudden loss or distortion of vision, with or without pain, warrants urgent same-day eye care.

  • Distorted or wavy central vision

    Straight lines appearing bent can point to myopic maculopathy and needs ophthalmology input.

  • One eye markedly worse than the other

    A sudden asymmetry between the eyes, particularly in a child, should not be left unassessed.

  • Eye pain with visual change

    Pain alongside blurred or lost vision needs urgent assessment to exclude other serious eye conditions.

Living with it

A correctable condition, with good habits alongside it.

Four things that make the biggest difference day to day - the right correction, time outdoors, screen breaks and staying on top of eye checks.

A quiet reminder

Consistency beats intensity, every time.

Small, steady habits - kept up for years, not weeks - protect both vision and long-term eye health.

  1. 01 Correct

    Wear the right prescription

    An up-to-date glasses or contact lens prescription reduces eye strain and keeps daily life comfortable and safe.

  2. 02 Outdoors

    Get outside, especially as a child

    Regular daylight outdoor time is one of the most protective habits against myopia developing or progressing.

  3. 03 Breaks

    Rest the eyes from screens

    Short, regular breaks from near work reduce strain, even though evidence for slowing myopia itself is limited.

  4. 04 Monitor

    Keep up with eye checks

    Annual reviews catch progression early in children and watch for retinal risk in adults with high myopia.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about nearsightedness.

Quick answers on myopia control, laser surgery and long-term eye health.

  • What is nearsightedness?

    Also called myopia, it is a refractive error where the eye focuses light in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Distant objects appear blurred while near vision, such as reading, usually stays clear.

  • Why is myopia becoming more common?

    Rates have risen sharply worldwide, particularly in children, and are widely linked to reduced time spent outdoors and increased near-work such as screens, tablets and reading. Genetics also plays a significant role.

  • Can myopia progression be slowed in children?

    Yes. Specially designed contact lenses, low-dose atropine drops and increased outdoor time have all been shown to slow the rate at which a child’s prescription worsens, though they do not reverse existing myopia.

  • Is laser eye surgery suitable for everyone with myopia?

    No. LASIK and PRK are generally reserved for adults with a stable prescription and suitable corneal thickness. A full assessment determines suitability, and glasses or contact lenses remain the mainstay for most people.

  • What is high myopia and why does it matter?

    High myopia refers to a strong prescription, usually from significant eye elongation. It carries an increased long-term risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy, so regular dilated eye examinations are recommended.

  • What symptoms mean I should see an eye specialist urgently?

    Sudden flashes, a shower of new floaters, a shadow or curtain across vision, or sudden vision loss all need same-day assessment - these can signal retinal problems, which are more likely with high myopia.

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