Faq's

Glasses in children

• Q: My child needs glasses at a very young age and I am very disturbed.
  A: This is the common reaction by all parents when told that their child needs glasses. However, this is not a big problem and most children with glasses will adjust easily and start performing better at school as they can see well. There is no alternative to using glasses and this can NOT be cured by any eye drops or medicines.
• Q: Will my child's number decrease with age?
  A: Commonly the minus numbers (myopia) increase with age till about the age of 21 to 23, after which they become stable. Plus numbers (hypermetropia, which is much less common) on the other hand may decrease with age and sometimes totally disappear. Special type of number called cylindrical number remains more or less constant throughout life.
• Q: What can I do to know whether my child needs glasses?
  A: If the child has poor vision in both eyes, you will generally come to know as the child sits too close to the television or can not see on the school blackboard, if sitting at the back of the classroom. However, sometimes there may be poor vision in only one eye and this can easily be detected by covering each eye alternately. Some children may be able to see but complain of eye strain or headache. Some young children with high plus numbers may actually start squinting (inward deviation of one eye). However, it is imperative to get the vision checked (whether in school screening or other such programmes) and it is best to visit an ophthalmologist at the age of about 5 years as the child starts reading to rule out any eye problems.
• Q: My child wears glasses but still complains of headache and eye strain.
  A: Some children may suffer from convergence insufficiency, which is a common problem in school going children. Convergence exercises done as explained by your care professional will solve the problem.