Myopia is a global concern; it’s estimated that half the world’s population will be myopic by 2050.

Let’s do what we can now to help protect their vision for years to come.

What is Myopia?

Myopia is also known as being short-sighted or near-sighted. This means that your distance vision is blurry but things that are up-close can be seen clearly. There are varying degrees of myopia that come with greater risks.

What causes Myopia?

Myopia itself is usually caused by the eye becoming too long in shape, causing light to focus at the front of the retina rather than directly on it. Though all of the reasons for this are not yet fully understood, there are several factors that increase the likelihood of a child becoming myopic; these include both genetic and environmental factors.

A child is 3 times more at risk of being myopic if just one parent is myopic

Is Myopia harmful?

The risks associated with high myopia include retinal detachments, glaucoma and myopic retinal degeneration later in life. The risk increases as the prescription gets worse. These conditions can lead to sight loss, sometimes irreversibly. It is important to stay up-to-date with eye tests in order to monitor the progression of myopia.

How can myopia be managed?

Here at Harper & Cooper we offer a comprehensive myopia management plan with the aim to control and slow the progression of myopia for children under 18 years old. The plan starts from just £29 per month and consists of:

Consultation with our optometrists and any further check ups or tests required
Axial length measurements (the ‘gold-standard’ measurement of assessing myopia progression)
Specialised spectacle or contact lenses designed to help manage the development of myopia