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 worsens each year. New glasses correct the sight but do not slow it down. We measure your child's eyes properly, confirm what is really happening, then slow the progression, honestly.
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.
The honest answer
Can my child's eye power be reduced?
It is the first thing nearly every parent asks, so here is the truth, plainly. 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. Anyone promising to remove your child's glasses or bring the number down is not being honest with you.
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.
Here is what is true, and worth holding onto. While you cannot reverse the power, you can slow how fast it rises, and that is the entire purpose of myopia control. It matters more than it sounds: a lower final power means a lower lifelong risk of serious problems later, including retinal detachment and early 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. So the honest goal is not removal, it is control: slow the rise, and protect your child's sight for life.
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 every plan personally.
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.
Personal attention, start to finish
An experienced surgeon looks after you personally.
Your assessment, your child's myopia care and follow-up are handled as one continuous plan, by an experienced eye surgeon who knows your eye and your history, so nothing is lost between the consultation, the procedure and the visits after.
1
Examines youAn unhurried consultation, with time to ask everything.
2
Operates on youThe procedure performed by an experienced surgeon, personally.
3
Looks after youPersonal attention at every follow-up afterwards.
Before you choose any eye surgeon
Questions worth asking, of anyone.
Your sight is not where to bargain-hunt. Ask these of any practice you are considering:
- Will I meet the surgeon who will operate, before the day?
- Will one experienced surgeon take responsibility for my care?
- Is the lens or plan chosen for my eye and my life, or for a package?
- If something needs attention afterwards, who handles it?
- Will someone tell me honestly if I don't need surgery yet?
At Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital, the answer to every one of these is yes.
Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy
Chief Surgeon · MBBS · DO · DNB · Aravind-trained
Third generation of a family Hyderabad has trusted with its eyes since 1975, founded by Padma Bhushan Dr. P. Siva Reddy, "the People's Ophthalmologist."
4.9★ · 1,125 Google reviews Since 1975 · three generations
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can my child's eye power be reduced naturally, with food or eye exercises?
No, and we will always be honest about that. 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 proven options here plus daily time outdoors. Anyone promising to reduce the number or remove the glasses is not being straight with you.
Can my child's specs be removed?
Not while the eyes are still growing. Laser surgery to be free of glasses, 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 and more important: slow the power from rising, so that whatever they reach as an adult is as low, and as safe, as possible.
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?
Yes. We use 0.05% atropine, a very low concentration applied once at bedtime. At this dose, side effects are minimal. Some children notice mild light sensitivity or slight blur at near vision, but these are well-tolerated. 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. Earlier treatment generally gives better outcomes because the eye is still actively growing.
Will myopia control stop the power increasing completely?
We aim to slow progression significantly, not to guarantee it stops. The proven options here slow axial elongation by roughly half compared to regular glasses. 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 the options with the strongest evidence: low-dose atropine 0.05% drops and myopia control spectacle lenses, chosen after properly 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 clearly at the baseline visit. The honest way to understand it is to come in for that visit, once your child's eyes have been examined. You're warmly welcome to visit us in Himayat Nagar; you can book a time on WhatsApp or by phone. Myopia control is usually an outpatient optical service and is generally not covered by insurance; we'll tell you honestly if that applies to you.
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 · 2026-06-25
Ready to book?
The fastest way to reach us is WhatsApp. We typically respond the same day.
Personal attention at every visit — an experienced eye surgeon examines you, explains your options plainly, and looks after your care from your first consultation onward.