Myopia resources
A clear pathway for managing myopia in children, a checklist to print for your visit, and where to find international guidance.
The management pathway
Initial consultation
History of symptoms, family myopia, outdoor time and screen use. Measure unaided and corrected vision, cycloplegic refraction, keratometry and axial length, and examine the retina.
Risk assessment
Compare age, refraction and axial length with expected values for the child's age and background. Fast growth or a long eye at a young age means higher risk and a stronger case for treatment.
Management strategy
Daylight outdoors for every child. Add a proven option: spectacle lenses, soft or ortho-k contact lenses, low-dose atropine or red light, alone or combined, matched to age, comfort and family routine.
Follow-up
Review every 6 months with axial length and refraction. If growth stays above the expected rate, change or combine treatment rather than waiting. Review atropine and ortho-k safety at each visit.
Written for eye care professionals and families as a plain summary of widely accepted practice. It does not replace national guidelines or clinical judgement.
Visit checklist for parents
Print this page or save it as a PDF and bring it to your child's appointment.
Before the visit
- Bring current glasses and any past eye reports.
- Note which parent has myopia and at what age it began.
- Note daily outdoor time and screen time.
Ask the doctor
- What is my child's axial length, and how fast is it growing?
- Which treatment do you advise and why?
- How will we know it is working?
- When is the next measurement?
At home
- Two hours outdoors in daylight each day.
- Take breaks from close work: look far away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
- Use treatment every day as prescribed.
International guidance
International Myopia Institute
White papers, clinical summaries and infographics on myopia definitions, interventions and clinical management. myopiainstitute.org
Brien Holden Vision Institute
Myopia calculator, news and guidelines from its Global Myopia Centre. bhvi.org
Our evidence tables
The trial results behind our calculator, with references. Evidence for eye doctors
Parent guide
What myopia is and what helps, in plain language. Read the guide