How do I know if my child needs myopia control?

Key signs your child may need myopia control include: wearing glasses with a minus (-) prescription that gets stronger each year, squinting to see the board at school, spending more than 3 hours daily on screens, doing less than 1 hour of outdoor activity daily, or having a parent with high myopia. If your child shows two or more of these signs, a professional evaluation at a myopia control clinic is strongly recommended.

At what age should children start myopia control treatment?

Myopia control is most effective when started as early as possible after myopia is first detected. Children's eyes grow fastest between ages 6 and 14, so beginning treatment in this window produces the best long-term results. There is no minimum age — if myopia is present, control should be discussed immediately.

Does my child need Ortho-K lenses or glasses for myopia control?

The best myopia control option depends on your child's age, prescription strength, eye measurements, and lifestyle. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) night lenses are the most effective option (up to 90% slowing), followed by Atropine drops and specially designed spectacle lenses. A full evaluation at Saoji Vision Care will determine the personalised best approach.

What is myopia and why is it increasing so rapidly in children?

Myopia (short-sightedness or minus power in glasses) is a condition where the eyeball grows too long, making distant objects appear blurry. It is increasing rapidly because children today spend far more time on screens and close-up study in small spaces, with very little outdoor play. This sustained near-work puts stress on the growing visual system. The WHO estimates that by 2050, half the global population will be myopic, making early myopia control the most important preventive eye health intervention for children today.

Is myopia dangerous or does it only need glasses?

Myopia is far more than a glasses issue. As minus power increases, so does the risk of vision-threatening complications in adulthood including retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy (which can cause legal blindness), cataract, and glaucoma. A person with -5.00 D myopia is 4 times more likely to suffer a myopia-related complication than a contact-lens complication in their lifetime. The higher the minus power, the greater the risk — which is why controlling myopia progression in childhood is essential.

What is the best treatment for myopia control in children?

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) night-wear contact lenses are the most widely used and most effective myopia control treatment globally, capable of slowing progression by up to 90%. Other options include low-concentration Atropine eye drops (40–60% control), specially designed myopia control spectacle lenses, and binocular vision therapy for certain cases. The best treatment depends on the child's age, prescription, eye measurements, and lifestyle. A combination approach is often most effective.

What is Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) and how does it work for children?

Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) uses specially customised rigid contact lenses worn only at night while sleeping. They gently reshape the cornea overnight so that when the child wakes up and removes the lenses, they can see clearly throughout the entire day without glasses or daytime contact lenses. It works like charging your eyes at night to use them during the day. Ortho-K lenses must be individually customised — ready-made lenses do not work as effectively. Saoji Vision Care was the first clinic in India to fit Paragon CRT Ortho-K lenses.

Are Atropine eye drops safe for children for myopia control?

Low-concentration Atropine eye drops used once nightly are generally considered safe and provide good myopia control (typically 40–60% reduction in progression). However, long-term safety data beyond 5 years is still limited. Some research also indicates that while Atropine slows the increase in minus power, it may not significantly slow the actual elongation of the eyeball, which is what drives long-term complications. Saoji Vision Care discusses all these considerations with families before recommending Atropine as part of a personalised plan.

By how much can myopia progression be slowed with treatment?

With appropriate myopia control treatment — or a combination of treatments — progression can be slowed by 40% to 90% depending on the method used and the individual child. Ortho-K night lenses typically achieve the highest reduction (up to 90%), Atropine eye drops typically achieve 40–60%, and specially designed spectacle lenses offer moderate control. Starting treatment earlier in childhood, when eyes are growing fastest (ages 6–14), produces the best long-term outcomes.

What is the right age to start myopia control for my child?

Myopia control should ideally begin as soon as myopia is first detected — there is no minimum age. Children's eyes grow fastest between ages 6 and 14, which is when myopia typically progresses most rapidly. Starting treatment during this window offers the greatest opportunity to prevent high myopia. Even if a child's prescription is currently small, early intervention limits how high the final prescription will become, significantly reducing their lifetime risk of serious eye complications.

How do I know if my child needs myopia control treatment?

Your child likely needs myopia control if they already wear glasses with a minus (-) prescription, are getting a stronger prescription at each check-up, spend a lot of time on screens or reading with little outdoor play, or have a parent or sibling with high myopia. Even a small current prescription is not reassurance — the rate of progression matters more than the current number. A full baseline evaluation at Saoji Vision Care will assess all relevant factors and guide the decision.

What happens during a myopia control evaluation at Saoji Vision Care?

The initial myopia control evaluation at Saoji Vision Care is a detailed 1 to 1.5 hour consultation that includes: baseline refraction (current eye power), corneal topography (a precise 3D map of the cornea), A-Scan axial length measurement (the actual physical length of the eyeball — the most important predictor of future complications), binocular vision and eye muscle assessment, and a full review of family history, lifestyle, and screen habits. These findings together form the basis of a personalised myopia control strategy.

How often does my child need to visit the clinic after starting myopia control?

After starting myopia control treatment, children are reviewed every 4 to 6 months at Saoji Vision Care. At each visit, axial length (eyeball length) and eye power are re-measured to assess whether the treatment is working. If needed, the strategy is adjusted or combined with additional therapies. Regular monitoring is essential — myopia control is not a one-time treatment but an ongoing programme. Between visits, parents stay connected through a dedicated WhatsApp group with updates and guidance.

Can lifestyle changes alone stop myopia from getting worse?

Lifestyle changes — especially spending at least 2 hours outdoors daily and following the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes of near work, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds) — can slow myopia onset and mild progression. However, once myopia is established and progressing, lifestyle changes alone are rarely sufficient to achieve the 40–90% reduction that clinical treatments provide. At Saoji Vision Care, lifestyle modification is always a foundational part of every programme, working alongside clinical treatments — never replacing them.

Why choose Saoji Vision Care for myopia control in Nagpur?

Saoji Vision Care in Nagpur has 35 years of optometry experience and holds some of the highest qualifications in myopia management in India. The clinic was the first in India to fit Paragon CRT Ortho-K lenses and Rose K lenses for Keratoconus. It holds a Centre of Excellence award from David Thomas (UK) for complicated contact lens fitting and is a recognised internship centre for Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Dr D Y Patil University Pune, and an observership centre for Lata Mangeshkar Hospital Nagpur. All treatment plans are evidence-based, fully personalised, and continuously monitored.

Nagpur

Our patients call us the best in eye care.

Purchase

Trusted by 1000+ Parents

Comprehensive Eye Exam

Together we can tackle myopia in Children

Check our FAQs

Does your child need

Myopia Control?

Answer 5 simple questions in under a minute. No medical jargon, no sign-up. Get a clear, personalised answer instantly.

Does My Child Need Myopia Control? – Free Quiz | Saoji Vision Care, Nagpur

Saoji Vision Care · Nagpur

~60 seconds 5 easy questions 100% free

Factors

Near-work activities

Less times spent outdoors

The high value placed on education performance

Other lifestyle considerations

Indicates that the incidence of myopia will only increase.¹

1. Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, Jong M, Naidoo KS, Sankaridurg P, Wong TY, Naduvilath TJ, Resnikoff S. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016 May;123(5):1036-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.01.006. Epub 2016 Feb 11. PMID: 26875007.

Discover the research

Examples of
near-work activities

(Avoid these)

Digital devices

Deskwork

Reading

Taking care ofYour Child's Eyesight

We advise these changes to our patients.

Spend time outdoors

Children should spend more time outdoors, minimum 2 hours a day.

More breaks from near work

Take breaks from long intensive screen time or near-work.

Mind the environment

It's important to keep your eyes healthy while doing near-work, so take note of proper lighting, posture, and recommended working distance.

Keep regular checks

Get regular eye check-ups to ensure that myopia or other vision problems are detected and treated early, reducing the worsening of vision, myopia progression and potential complications of high myopia.

The support you need.
To support your child.

Our Optometric Protocol

Prelimnary investigation

During the first visit, all visual functions of the child should be assessed to get a clear overview of the current status of Myopia.

Read why

Patient's history

It is also essential to know the child and his/her parents' ocular and optical history.

Book Your Demo

Visual Acuity

Right/Left eye and Both eyes at far and near without correction and with current spectacles.

Pupillary Examination

Ocular Motility Test

Essentials

Refraction

Visual Functions Assessment

Ocular Health Assessment

Other mandatory tests

We want to provide you with the Most Advanced Products to protect your child's vision.

Parents concerned about their children's health and well-being, who invest heavily in their kid's futures, will be at the forefront of an already vast and growing opportunities for myopia control.

Research studies

Free Myopia Risk Assessment for Your Child

Myopia in children is progressing at an alarming rate in India — and early detection makes all the difference. Conducted by India's only Lifetime FIACLE certified optometrist. In-clinic visits only. Not available online.

Assessment Fee

Catch Myopia Early.
Worth ₹3,000/- Completely Free for your child's first visit.

Book an Appointment

Detect. Understand. Control.
Evidence-based myopia management.

More effective than standard spectacles at slowing myopia progression

What's Included
A comprehensive assessment covering all key myopia risk factors.

Assessment covers

Risk profiling & axial length

Progression analysis & counselling

Free for children

Myopia Control FAQ – Saoji Vision Care, Nagpur | Expert Answers

Myopia Control Clinic · Nagpur

Your questions about
myopia control, answered.

Everything parents in Nagpur ask us before starting their child's myopia control journey — answered by our clinical team with 35 years of experience.

35 years experience First Ortho-K clinic in India Centre of Excellence (UK) Nagpur, Maharashtra

Comprehensive Eye Exam

Does your child need

Myopia Control?