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Myopia: Children

Asked by Mr Gregory CampbellDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 27 February 2025UIN 32941

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making atropine eye drops available on the NHS for pre-myopic children.

Answered by Karin Smyth

Decisions on whether medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service are for integrated care systems, considering relevant national guidance where available, including from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

NICE is currently considering whether to develop guidance for the NHS on the use of low-dose atropine eye drops for treating myopia in children aged between three and 14 years old through its established prioritisation process.

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