Eye health
5 min read
Myopia in children: what has changed
More children are becoming short-sighted, and earlier. The good news is that we can now slow it down.
Written by
Tom Ferris
Short-sightedness used to start in the teenage years. Today we see it at seven or eight, and it tends to progress faster when it starts early.
What helps
Time outdoors, two hours a day, is the simplest protection. Special spectacle lenses and contact lenses can slow progression by around half, with check-ups every six months.
Every child’s test here includes a myopia check, and under-16s are always free.
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