Myopia or short-sightedness is a common disease or condition where distant objects appear blurry while close-up vision remains clear. It typically begins in childhood as the eye grows and is caused by the elongation of the eyeball, known as axial length.

As the eye continues to grow longer, myopia progresses. This not only increases the glasses prescription and dependence on corrective lenses but also raises the risk of long-term eye health issues such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and myopic maculopathy.

At Richard Petrie Optometrists, we routinely measure axial length for growing myopic children in practice using the Myopia Expert 700, allowing us to track and manage your child’s eye growth more precisely than ever before.

Research has made it clear: myopia can be managed. We now have access to a range of proven methods that help to slow down myopia progression. One example is Essilor® Stellest® lenses, which have been shown to reduce myopia progression by an average of 67% when worn for at least 12 hours a day, compared to standard single vision lenses.*

We’re proud to be leaders in myopia management and are here to support your child’s vision for a healthier, clearer future.

*Bao, J. et al. (2022). Spectacle Lenses With Aspherical Lenslets for Myopia Control vs Single-Vision Spectacle Lenses: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol. 140(5), 472–478.

Richard Petrie Optometrists provide a wide range of Myopia Management services to assist you in looking after the long term eye health of you and your family.
Initial assessment £86 (assessment complimentary for existing plan members).
The myopia management direct debit plan costs £36 per month which includes:

• Axial length measurement with Myopia Expert 700 and plotting progression data for each child at least every 6 months (more frequently if required)

• Optomap ultra-wide field retinal imaging

• Myopia Management spectacle lenses (included in the monthly fee)

• Follow up telephone consultation 2 weeks after initial collection and unlimited adjustments

• 1 prescription change included within a 12 month period if the prescription changes by 0.50ds or more (identified at the eye examination)

• £40 off frames and all adjustments as needed

• Accidental damage cover when a complete pair is purchased (new frames and lenses)

• Emergency appointments included

We’re proud to offer a range of evidence-based myopia management solutions to help slow down the progression of short-sightedness in children, protecting their long-term vision and eye health.
At Richard Petrie Optometrists, we are fully accredited to prescribe Essilor® Stellest® lenses, the first spectacle lenses clinically proven to slow eye growth and reduce the rate of myopia progression. These lenses are suitable for children of all ages, making them a safe and accessible starting point for early intervention.
We also fit myopia management contact lenses allowing children & teens to benefit from a flexible treatment plan that may combine both glasses and contact lenses as they grow and be free to enjoy activities fully.
Early intervention is key, the sooner we begin treatment, the more effective it tends to be. By actively managing myopia we aim to help reduce the final level of short-sightedness your child reaches and lower their lifetime risk of associated eye conditions.
While we do not currently offer Orthokeratology (overnight lenses) at our practice, we’re always happy to discuss all available options to ensure your child receives the best personalised care.

Just like children grow taller over time, their eyes grow too and this natural growth can cause myopia (short-sightedness) to worsen. While we can't stop this growth entirely, modern science and technology now allow us to help slow it down, reducing the long-term risks to eye health.
At Richard Petrie Optometrists, we use the Myopia Expert 700, a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool that accurately measures the axial length—the length of the eyeball. By taking these precise measurements at regular intervals, we can track how quickly your child’s eyes are growing and adjust their myopia management plan accordingly as well as give lifestyle advice.
This personalised monitoring is essential. It allows us to identify any changes early, evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, and ensure your child is on the best possible path for their vision.
While no treatment can guarantee to stop or reverse myopia, evidence shows that these methods can significantly slow progression in many children.
To learn more about the importance of early myopia management, we also recommend visiting Myopia Focus, where we proudly contribute as advocates for greater awareness and care.