Squinting to see far
Screwing up the eyes to make out the TV, the board, or a face across the room.
Children's myopia · Himayat Nagar
Is your child's eye power rising every year?
Rising eye power in a child is myopia, and it usually increases each year. New glasses correct the sight but do not slow the rise. Your child's eyes are measured, progression is confirmed, and myopia control treatment aims to slow it.
Children's myopia control illustration When to check
Signs it is time to check your child's eyes.
Children rarely say "I can't see." They adapt quietly, so the signs show up in how they behave. If you notice any of these, a check is worth it, especially if their power is already rising each year or short sight runs in the family.
A common question
Can my child's eye power be reduced?
It is the first thing nearly every parent asks, so here is the answer. The power that is already there cannot be reduced or reversed. Once the eye has grown a little longer, it does not shrink back, and no food, eye exercise, drop, or home remedy changes that.
Food and "natural" cures
A balanced diet is good for your child's overall health, but no fruit, food, or supplement lowers eye power. Carrots will not bring the number down.
Eye exercises
Eye exercises do not reduce myopia. The only daily habit with real evidence behind it is time spent outdoors in daylight.
While the power cannot be reversed, treatment can slow how fast it rises, and that is the purpose of myopia control. A lower final power is associated with a lower lifetime risk of some eye conditions, including retinal detachment and glaucoma. Low-dose atropine drops and myopia control lenses can slow the rise, they do not lower the power already there, and laser surgery is only ever for stable adult eyes, never a growing child's. The goal is control, not removal: to slow the rise.
What it is
More than just new glasses.
Between ages 6 and 14, eye power often climbs every year. Updating glasses alone does not slow the eye from growing, which is what drives the rising number. Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy oversees the treatment plan.
First visit
What we measure before we recommend.
We do not prescribe treatment based on a parent's concern alone. Baseline assessment takes about 90 minutes including dilation.
Cycloplegic refraction
Exact power after dilating drops, not just an autorefractor reading.
Axial length
Measured on our optical biometer. The most important number in myopia control.
Corneal topography
Maps corneal shape as part of a full baseline assessment.
Slit lamp exam
Anterior segment check before any treatment is discussed.
Options
What we may discuss after measuring.
We aim to slow progression significantly, not promise it stops. Plans are adjusted every 6 months from what we measure.
Follow-up
Every six months, we track the eye.
Not just the glasses number. Cycloplegic refraction and axial length at each visit.
6-month reviews
Regular follow-up to see whether progression is slowing as planned.
Axial length trend
We compare each measurement to the last, not just the prescription on paper.
Adjust the plan
Treatment is stepped up or down based on what the measurements show.
Patient guide
Myopia control for children: what to know before you decide.
What the first visit involves for your child, what each option asks of the family, and what myopia control cannot do.
Who it is for
- School-age children whose short-sight is increasing from one check to the next.
- Children who became short-sighted young, or whose parents are short-sighted.
- A child whose power is stable usually needs only correct glasses and regular checks.
What happens, step by step
- History.Earlier prescriptions, the parents' powers, outdoor time and near work are noted.
- Refraction with drops.Drops relax the focusing muscle so the child's true power can be measured.
- Eye length.The length of the eye is measured with optical biometry and recorded as a baseline.
- Discussion.The options are explained to the parents, including the option of glasses and observation.
- Review every six months.Power and eye length are measured again and compared.
Which tests are done, and why
- Cycloplegic refraction.Children focus strongly and can appear more short-sighted than they are. The drops remove that effect.
- Axial length by optical biometry.Short-sight increases as the eye grows longer. Tracking length shows whether treatment is slowing that growth.
- Corneal topography, where needed.Checks the shape of the cornea when the power or astigmatism is unusual.
- Slit lamp and retina examination.Confirms the eye is otherwise healthy.
What you feel
- The drops sting for about half a minute. They blur near vision and make lights seem bright for several hours, sometimes until the next day.
- The eye length measurement is painless. The child looks at a light for a few seconds and nothing touches the eye.
- It helps to plan the visit so homework and reading are not needed that evening.
What each option involves
- Atropine 0.05% drops.One drop in each eye at bedtime. Some children notice light sensitivity or blur for near work.
- Myopia control spectacle lenses.Worn full time. Most children adapt to them within days.
- Outdoor time.Daily time outdoors in daylight is encouraged alongside any treatment.
- Duration.Myopia control usually continues for years, through the ages when the eye is growing, with a review every six months.
Risks and limits
- Myopia control aims to slow the increase in power. It does not reduce the existing power or remove the need for glasses.
- The response varies from child to child, and some children continue to progress.
- Atropine drops can cause light sensitivity, blur for near work and, uncommonly, allergy. A few children do not tolerate them.
- Power can increase faster for a time if drops are stopped suddenly, so stopping is planned with the surgeon.
The benefits and side effects of each option are discussed with the parents before anything is started.
What affects the cost
- The option chosen: drops, myopia control spectacle lenses, or both.
- New lenses when the power changes.
- The six-monthly review visits and measurements.
Fees are explained at the consultation, before anything is started.
What to bring
- Your child's current glasses.
- Every earlier prescription you have, with dates. The rate of change guides the decision.
- The parents' own spectacle powers, if known.
- Sunglasses or a cap for the journey home after the drops.
How care is organised here
Assessment, procedure and follow-up as one plan.
Your assessment, your child's myopia care and follow-up visits are planned together, so the findings from your consultation carry through to the procedure and the reviews afterwards.
1
ConsultationExamination, measurements and time for your questions.
2
ProcedurePlanned from the measurements taken at your consultation.
3
Follow-upReview visits at set intervals, with written instructions.
At your consultation
What is discussed before any procedure.
- You meet the operating surgeon before the day of the procedure.
- The lens or treatment plan is discussed in relation to your eye and your daily needs.
- Risks, benefits and alternatives are explained, and results vary from person to person.
- You are told whom to contact after the procedure and when your reviews are due.
Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital
Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad. Established 1975.
Surgeon: Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can my child's eye power be reduced naturally, with food or eye exercises?
No. Eye power that is already there cannot be brought down by carrots, supplements, eye exercises, or any home remedy. Once the eye has grown a little longer, it does not shrink back. What you can do is slow how fast the power rises, using the options described here plus daily time outdoors. No food, exercise or drop reduces existing power.
Can my child's specs be removed?
Not while the eyes are still growing. Laser vision correction, like LASIK, is for adults, after about 18, and only once the power has been stable for a while. For a child, the goal is different: to slow the rise in power, so that the final adult power is lower than it would otherwise have been.
Is screen time or mobile causing my child's eye power to rise?
Screens get most of the blame, but the clearer evidence points to time spent indoors. Children who get less daylight and outdoor time tend to become more short-sighted. So rather than only fighting screens, we ask families to add outdoor time, around 90 minutes a day where you can, and to take regular screen breaks. That is the habit with real evidence behind it.
Is atropine eye drops safe for children?
We use 0.05% atropine, a low concentration applied once at bedtime. At this dose, side effects are usually mild. Some children notice light sensitivity or slight blur at near vision, and a few do not tolerate the drops. The benefits and side effects are discussed with you before starting. Your child will be reviewed every 6 months to check progress and adjust if needed.
What is a myopia control lens and how is it different from regular glasses?
Regular glasses correct vision but do not slow myopia progression. Myopia control lenses are specially designed to reduce the signal that causes the eye to keep growing. They look like normal glasses but have a different optical design in the periphery. They need to be worn at least 10 hours a day to be effective.
At what age can myopia control treatment start?
We typically start from age 6 onwards, once myopia is confirmed on cycloplegic refraction. Treatment is generally started early because the eye is still actively growing.
Will myopia control stop the power increasing completely?
The aim is to slow progression, not to guarantee it stops. In published studies these options can slow the lengthening of the eye compared with regular glasses, and the response varies from child to child. We track the eye every 6 months and adjust the plan based on what the measurements actually show.
Which myopia control options do you use?
We use low-dose atropine 0.05% drops and myopia control spectacle lenses, chosen after measuring your child's eyes. The doctor explains which suits your child and why at the baseline visit.
What does myopia control cost in Hyderabad?
It depends on which option suits your child and the lenses chosen, which the doctor discusses with you at the baseline visit. A written estimate is given after that visit. You can contact the hospital on WhatsApp or by phone. Myopia control is usually an outpatient optical service and is generally not covered by insurance.
I want to bring my child for a check, how do I book?
You can book the myopia clinic on WhatsApp or by phone. Please plan about 90 minutes for the first visit because of dilation time, and bring any previous prescriptions or glasses so we can see how the power has changed.
Medically reviewed by Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104. Last reviewed 25 June 2026.
Appointments and contact
You can reach Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital on WhatsApp or by phone during OPD hours.
OPD hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM and 4:30 PM to 7 PM. Closed on Sunday.