How Much Does Myopia Control Cost? A Parent’s Guide to Choosing a Provider
Myopia control is priced by treatment type: spectacle lens options generally sit at one end, with contact lens-based programmes, orthokeratology and atropine drops priced separately again. But the exact figure matters less than what’s included in it. Cost is a fair and sensible question to ask; here’s what actually affects the price, and why the cheapest option on paper isn’t always the best value.
What Affects the Price of Myopia Control?
- The lens, contact lens or treatment chosen (spectacle lenses, contact lenses and atropine drops are priced differently)
- Whether the fee includes a full myopia risk assessment, or just the product itself
- Whether axial length is measured and monitored over time, which requires specific equipment such as our Oculus Myopia Master
- Whether additional imaging is included such as corneal topography, OCT, OCT-Angiography and ultra-widefield retinal imaging
- Ongoing review appointments, which are part of managing myopia properly rather than a one-off purchase
As a general guide, myopia management in the UK ranges from basic spectacle lens options through to specialist contact lens and orthokeratology programmes, with pharmaceutical options like atropine drops priced separately again. Newer spectacle lens options, such as SightGlass Vision’s DOT lens, are priced individually too, in the same way as MiYOSMART IQ, Stellest 2.0 and Zeiss MyoCare. Exact costs vary by practice and by treatment, which is why we’d always recommend asking any provider what’s actually included in their fee rather than comparing headline prices alone.
Why the Assessment Matters More Than the Price Tag
A myopia control lens or contact lens is only as good as the assessment behind it. Prescribing the wrong option, or not monitoring how a child’s eyes respond over time, can mean paying for a treatment that isn’t actually working. At our clinic, a full myopia assessment includes a complete eye examination, axial length measurement, and a detailed risk report with a personalised treatment plan, and we track progress at follow-up visits rather than treating the first prescription as the end of the process.
Specialist Clinic or High-Street Optician?
Several high-street opticians, including Specsavers, now offer myopia control products. That’s a good thing for awareness of myopia control generally. The difference at a dedicated myopia clinic tends to be depth of assessment (axial length monitoring, risk profiling) and continuity of specialist follow-up, rather than the headline price of the lens itself. We’d encourage any parent, wherever they choose to go, to ask specifically whether axial length will be measured and monitored over time, not just whether a myopia control lens is available. We cover the fuller checklist of questions worth asking in our guide to choosing a myopia clinic.
Choosing the practitioner carefully is also important. Some optometrists are highly trained and experienced in myopia management. A high volume myopia expert managing hundreds of children with many years experience may offer better insight than one who dabbles occasionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are myopia control glasses worth the extra cost?
For a child with confirmed progressive myopia, the evidence for slowing progression is strong across several products, and the long-term benefit is a reduced risk of high myopia and its associated eye health risks in adulthood. Whether it’s worth it for your child specifically is best assessed individually.
Is myopia management available on the NHS?
Routine eye tests are available on the NHS in Scotland, but specialist myopia control treatments (lenses, contact lenses and atropine drops) are generally privately funded across the UK at present.
How much does a myopia assessment cost at Peter Ivins Eye Care?
Please contact us directly for current pricing, as this can change — call 0141 943 3300 or email craig@peterivins.co.uk.
A full 60 minute myopia assessment including eye examination, cycloplegic refraction, axial length measurement, corneal topography, OCT and ultrawide field retinal imaging for children costs £95.
Ongoing care for 3-6 monthly myopia assessment costs £10.95 per month.
Book a Myopia Assessment
If your child’s eyesight seems to be changing, book a myopia assessment or email Craig McArthur. You can also explore the myopia control options we offer.
Call us: 0141 943 3300
Visit our clinic in Bearsden, Glasgow
Learn more at www.myopiascotland.co.uk