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An exact number with drops
A child’s eye can adjust its own focus and hide the true number. Drops relax that effort: a no-touch device measures the cylinder and axis, and the prescription comes out accurate.
BABY EYE CLINICchildren’s branch of RB CLINIC
Seen by Dr. Begaidarova, BABY EYE CLINIC
On your child’s prescription — cyl · ax
Astigmatism treatment for children in Astana, while vision is learning
In children, astigmatism is corrected with glasses, not a laser. The hurry is with the glasses: up to age 7–8 the eye is learning to see clearly. Enter the number from the prescription — and we’ll show how your child sees the board.
Seen by Dr. Begaidarova, BABY EYE CLINIC
Glasses fitting10,000 ₸per fitting
We’ll confirm the visit price on WhatsApp
- 4.9 · 259 ratings on 2GIS
- paediatric ophthalmologist
- laser — from 18
How your child sees
This is an illustration. How your child actually sees will show up in a check with drops.
1.75
Axis ax
Now
For a child
This is how a child with cyl 1.75 sees the board without glasses. They don’t complain: they have nothing to compare with. And the copying mistakes aren’t down to inattention.
Age 6–8: the window is still open. Up to age 7–8 vision learns fastest — don’t put the check off until the end of the school year.
4.9 on 2GIS for BABY EYE CLINIC · 259 ratings
55 of 117 parent reviews mention Dr. Begaidarova by name
7–8 years — until this age a child’s vision learns fastest
An honest look at what parents fear
Three parental fears when cyl appears on a child’s prescription
Astigmatism in children isn’t frightening if the child sees clearly every day. What’s frightening is astigmatism left uncorrected for years: the brain gets used to a blurred picture. It’s like learning to write with a crooked pen — the hand adapts, and relearning takes longer later.
“They won’t see well and will fall behind at school”
In glasses a child sees the board just like their classmates
Without glasses a child with astigmatism squints, tilts their head, mixes up similar letters and numbers and tires of books quickly. From the outside it looks like inattention. Glasses matched to the axis give an even picture, and lessons stop being hard work for the eyes.
“They’ll be left with a lazy eye”
A lazy eye develops where glasses aren’t worn
If one eye sees a blurred picture for years, the brain stops using it — this is amblyopia. It’s treated with glasses and patching the stronger eye, and it works best in childhood. That’s why the doctor asks for glasses to be worn all day, not just in lessons.
“Glasses for life? Maybe a laser?”
Children don’t have laser correction, and rightly so
A child’s eye is still growing, and the number on the prescription can change. Laser correction is done from 18, once the number is stable. Glasses don’t “ruin” eyesight: they give the eye a clear picture while it learns to see.
If your child doesn’t need glasses yet, we’ll say so. Mild astigmatism that doesn’t affect vision is sometimes just monitored. It’s decided not by the number on the prescription but by how the child sees with each eye.
Why not wait
Why astigmatism in children is treated before age 7–8
The brain learns to see clearly the way it learns to talk: most easily in early childhood. The eye of a child with astigmatism sends a blurred picture to the brain. If it isn’t corrected with glasses before age 7–8, the brain may never learn to see with that eye at full strength — even when glasses are put on later.
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Under 3
In babies mild astigmatism can be normal and often goes away by itself by age 2–3. The doctor checks whether it’s decreasing and will tell you if it’s time for glasses.
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Age 3–8: the main window
Full-time glasses in these years give the brain what it was missing — a clear picture every day. The earlier they go on, the more time the eye has to learn.
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Age 8–17
Glasses still give a clear view of the board and ease tiredness. If one eye has become “lazy”, it’s treated, but it takes longer than in a small child. The prescription is rechecked as the child grows.
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From 18
The eye has finished growing and the number no longer changes. Glasses or lenses are now chosen as for an adult.
A check doesn’t harm anything and doesn’t commit you to anything. It shows whether there’s something to correct now — while time is working for your child, not against them. Enter the number from the prescription
What happens after the check
How astigmatism in children is treated: full-time glasses and monitoring
Treating astigmatism in a child isn’t a procedure but a habit of seeing clearly. The doctor measures the cylinder and axis precisely, fits glasses to them and watches the eye as it grows. Like braces: they work as long as they’re worn.
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Full-time glasses
Cylindrical lenses are set strictly to the axis on the prescription — that’s how lines become even in every direction. Children usually need to wear them all day: the doctor will tell you exactly how.
3
If one eye is “lazy”
When one eye sees worse even in glasses, occlusion is added: the stronger eye is patched for a few hours a day, and the weaker one starts working. The doctor decides how many hours.
4
Monitoring while the eye grows
A child’s eye grows, and sometimes the prescription needs changing. The doctor will tell you when to come back: they’ll check how your child sees in glasses and whether both eyes work equally.
Line by line
How to read your child’s prescription: what cyl and ax mean
Astigmatism on a prescription is two columns: cyl and ax. The first says how unevenly the eye bends light, the second — in which direction. Tap an eye below — the picture above will show how it sees without glasses.
Glasses prescriptionsphcylax
OD right+0.50−1.75180
OS left+0.25−0.7590
An example, not a prescription. Enter your child’s numbers in the picture above.
- OD and OS
- Right and left eye. In children the numbers are often different — and that matters: the weaker eye may start to become “lazy”.
- sph
- Myopia with a minus sign or hyperopia with a plus sign. A child with astigmatism often has one of these too.
- cyl
- The strength of astigmatism in dioptres. The bigger the number, the blurrier the picture. The minus or plus in front of it is just a way of writing it and doesn’t change the picture.
- ax
- The axis, from 0 to 180 degrees: the direction in which lines look worse. The lens is set in the frame by it, which is why glasses for astigmatism are made only to prescription.
Degrees of astigmatism
- Mildup to 3.0 dioptres
The child may not complain but tires from long reading and drawing.
- Moderatefrom 3.0 to 6.0 dioptres
Noticeably affects both distance and near vision. Correction with glasses is needed.
- Highover 6.0 dioptres
Seriously reduces vision. Glasses and a doctor’s monitoring are essential.
A mild degree doesn’t mean “no need to wear them”. Whether glasses are needed, the doctor decides by how your child sees with each eye, not by a single number.
It’s not your fault
Where a child’s astigmatism comes from
Most often astigmatism in children is simply the shape of the eye the child was born with. It wasn’t caused by screen time, and you didn’t miss it through inattention. What matters isn’t where it came from, but that the eye sees clearly while it’s learning.
Heredity
If mum or dad has astigmatism, a child is noticeably more likely to have it. It may show up right after birth or in the first years.
Prematurity and development before birth
In children born early the visual system matures more slowly, and refractive errors, astigmatism included, are more common.
Eye injuries and diseases
A blow, inflammation or another eye disease can change the shape of the cornea. This is called acquired astigmatism.
Age-related astigmatism in babies
In infants mild astigmatism can be normal and often goes away by itself by age 2–3. If it doesn’t, or if it’s high, correction is needed.
Phones and tablets don’t cause astigmatism, but a blurry picture tires a child’s eyes faster on a screen. The first paediatric ophthalmologist check-up is before age one, then before kindergarten, before school and once a year, even if nothing seems wrong.
What your child will see
This is how a child’s eye test goes: show it at home beforehand
Show your child these photos at home — the unfamiliar is less scary once it’s been seen. The devices that measure astigmatism don’t touch the eye: the child looks at a picture in a little window. The photos with children were taken at BABY EYE CLINIC, 2A Syganak St: that’s where your child will be seen. The exam rooms, the RB OPTICS store and the lobby are RB CLINIC at 12 Orynbor St: come here for prescription glasses. Drag the strip or tap a photo.
A doctor explains
Dr. Begaidarova explains in a minute
Begaidarova Aliya Kairgeldinovna · paediatric ophthalmologist, BABY EYE CLINIC
A lazy eye can’t be seen from the outside
“No pain, no redness, no squint. You absolutely can’t see this problem until you have the vision checked.”
“And if this problem isn’t dealt with before age 7, the vision, unfortunately, may not come back.”
- no pain or redness
- treat before age 7
- a check-up once a year
The doctor’s words from the video — verbatim. Tap the video to listen with sound.
BABY EYE CLINIC paediatric doctor
Who will see a child with astigmatism
A child’s prescription is written by a paediatric ophthalmologist, not a machine in an optician’s. At BABY EYE CLINIC that’s Dr. Begaidarova: parents mention her by name in 55 of 117 reviews. She’ll explain what each number means and how to wear the glasses, and tell you when to come back.
Begaidarova Aliya Kairgeldinovna
Paediatric ophthalmologist, BABY EYE CLINIC
Parents mention her by name in 55 of 117 reviews. At the appointment she’ll go through the prescription with you line by line — you’ll leave with no questions left.
Appointments at BABY EYE CLINIC, 2A Syganak St — Mon–Sat 11:00–18:00, by appointment. We’ll find a time on WhatsApp.
Prescription at BABY EYE, glasses at RB OPTICS
Glasses for astigmatism — at RB OPTICS
With astigmatism the axis matters: a lens turned a few degrees the wrong way gives worse vision. That’s why glasses are made strictly to the BABY EYE CLINIC doctor’s prescription at RB OPTICS, the optician’s inside RB CLINIC at 12 Orynbor St. Your child picks the frame, and glasses they like don’t get “forgotten” at home.
Glasses fitting
lenses your child sees clearly in without tiring
10,000 ₸
per fitting
- Lenses are set to the axis on the BABY EYE doctor’s prescription
- Your child tries on frames — and wears the glasses more willingly
- If the floor “swims” in the new glasses, show them to the BABY EYE doctor
Other children’s pages: paediatric ophthalmology · myopia in children · hyperopia in children · strabismus
Backed by RB CLINIC
Few children need surgery. If yours does — the surgeon is right here
Most children do fine with glasses, contact lenses, training on eye devices or simply monitoring. The doctor will only suggest surgery when there’s a medical need — for a squint, ptosis or blocked tear ducts. Then it’s done by RB CLINIC surgeons: BABY EYE CLINIC is the children’s branch of RB CLINIC, a leading eye microsurgery centre in Astana.
- 70,560+eye and eyelid surgeries performed at RB CLINIC
- 35,000+surgeries by the founder, academician Bigeldiyev
When medically needed:
Bigeldiyev Rishat Kalilullaevich
Founder of RB CLINIC, academician. If a child needs strabismus surgery, he performs it
About Dr. Bigeldiyev
Child’s appointment
BABY EYE CLINIC
2A Syganak St
Mon–Sat 11:00–18:00, by appointment
Check-ups from birth, prescriptions for glasses and lenses, device-based treatment, monitoring
If needed
RB CLINIC
12 Orynbor St
Mon–Sat 9:00–19:00
RB OPTICS store and surgery when needed
All about BABY EYE CLINIC: doctor, address, how we treat
One visit
Book your child with an ophthalmologist, prescription in hand
Your child will be seen at BABY EYE CLINIC, 2A Syganak St. Tell us your child’s age and what’s on the prescription — the administrator will find a time. If you entered the number in the picture above, it will already be in the message.
- A talk with you and the old prescription
- Pictures and no-touch devices
- Drops and the exact number
- A glasses prescription and a follow-up date
Bring previous glasses and prescriptions.
Call BABY EYE: +7 771 833 00 03 · Mon–Sat 11:00–18:00
Surgery questions — RB CLINIC: +7 771 848 00 00
Questions
Questions about astigmatism in children
Can astigmatism in a child be treated?
Astigmatism is the shape of the cornea or lens, and glasses don’t change it. Treating astigmatism in children means giving the eye a clear picture with full-time glasses while vision develops, and watching the number as the child grows. If one eye has become “lazy”, patching of the stronger eye is added.
Does my child need to wear glasses all the time?
Children with astigmatism are usually prescribed glasses for the whole day: the brain only learns to see clearly when it gets a clear picture all the time. Glasses “just for the board” give a picture that’s sometimes clear, sometimes blurred. How your child should wear them, the doctor will say after the check.
Why is it important to correct astigmatism in a child before age 7–8?
Up to age 7–8 a child’s vision learns fastest. If one or both eyes see a blurred picture in these years, the brain may get used to it and amblyopia — “lazy eye” — develops. It can be treated later too, but it works best in childhood.
Can a child’s astigmatism go away by itself?
In babies up to age 2–3 mild astigmatism can be normal and often goes away by itself. If it hasn’t decreased by then, or if it’s high, it usually stays. The number can change while the eye grows, so the prescription is rechecked rather than written once for all the school years.
Can a child have laser correction for astigmatism?
No, RB CLINIC does laser correction from 18: a child’s eye is still growing and the number changes. Surgical treatment of astigmatism in children is a rare exception.
What are the signs of astigmatism in a child?
The child squints or tilts their head when looking, as if searching for a position where things look sharper. They tire quickly from reading and drawing, rub their eyes, hold a book very close or far away. They mix up similar letters and numbers. The child usually doesn’t complain about their sight: they have nothing to compare with.
How often should a child with astigmatism have their eyes checked?
The first paediatric ophthalmologist check-up is before age one, then before kindergarten, before school and once a year, even if nothing seems wrong. For a child who wears glasses, the doctor sets the next check-up date: the eye keeps growing, so the prescription sometimes needs to change.
How much does astigmatism treatment for a child cost?
Glasses fitting at RB CLINIC costs 10,000 ₸ per fitting. We’ll confirm the price of a BABY EYE CLINIC appointment on WhatsApp: tell us your child’s age and what’s on the prescription — and we’ll find a time straight away.
Children’s appointments: BABY EYE CLINIC, Astana, 2A Syganak St · Prescription glasses: RB OPTICS at RB CLINIC, 12 Orynbor St · BABY EYE: +7 771 833 00 03 · RB CLINIC: +7 771 848 00 00 · All reviews