Boots Opticians announces the launch of mEYE Suite® by Ocumetra, a pioneering new service providing comprehensive support for children aged 6-18 who are at risk of or who already have myopia.

Childhood myopia, or short-sightedness, is an increasing public health concern now affecting nearly 1 in 3 young adults in the UK.  Its prevalence has more than doubled since the 1960s,2 a trend often linked to modern lifestyles including increased screen time.

Myopia typically develops between the ages of 6 and 13. By reducing the level of myopia during childhood, myopia management treatments can help to reduce the risk of serious eye conditions later in life like a retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

The mEYE Suite® is designed to support informed conversations between optometrists and parents, empowering them to better understand myopia as a long-term eye health condition that benefits from early and consistent management.

Available for use with all pre myopia and myopic children, the mEYE Suite® brings together three intuitive tools designed to support myopia management:

• mEYE Gauge to estimate the length of the eye, a key indicator for myopia progression
• mEYE Guide to assess a child's risk and current level of myopia, transforming complex clinical data into clear visual aids and personalised reports
• mEYE SCORE to monitor the effectiveness of chosen myopia management treatments over time and clearly demonstrating progress

Kyla Black, Director of Optical Practice at Boots Opticians, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the first national chain to bring mEYE Suite® by Ocumetra to our patients. We understand it can be overwhelming for parents to make decisions about their children's vision, so this innovative service is a real game-changer, providing clear insights and visual tools to help them feel confident about their child’s eye health.”

There are a range of solutions designed for children to help slow down myopia over time including MiSight 1 day contact lenses, Essilor® Stellest® lenses and Star Fit eyewear, frames and lenses which have been designed to balance the technical requirements of children's eyewear with aesthetics and comfort.

It is recommended that children have their eyes tested at least every two years or as recommended by their Optometrist. Parents concerned about their child's vision, or those with children who already have myopia, are encouraged to book an eye test at bootsopticians.com

¹ 125959 Future projections of myopia in the UK and Ireland: trends in prevalence, progression, and pathology through 2050 | BMJ Open Ophthalmology
² Sorsby A, Benjamin B, Sheridan M, Stone J, Leary GA. Refraction and its components during the growth of the eye from age of three. Memo Med Res Counc. 1961; 301(special):1-67.