Every year, Children’s Eye Care Awareness Week is observed across the L V Prasad Eye Institute network, to raise awareness among the public about various eye diseases in children. This year Children’s Eye Care Awareness Week was observed from November 10–16, 2025, with the theme, Myopia Awareness.
During the week, several competitions and fun activities were organized at the GMR Varalakshmi campus in Visakhapatnam, for patients and children of employees.
The week-long celebrations concluded on November 16, 2025 with an awareness walk on myopia from Kali Mandir, R K Beach Road to YMCA. About 300 children and parents participated in the walk. Placards to create awareness about myopia were carried during the walk, urging children to play outside and get sunlight to prevent/slow the onset of Myopia. The walk helped create awareness on myopia, signs and symptoms, causes, the importance of early detection and treatment and encourage parents to seek timely medical advice.
Myopia or near-sightedness is when you see near objects clearly, but far objects (such as the blackboard) appear blurred. Blurry vision, squeezing eyes to see clearly, frequent headaches and constant rubbing or blinking of eyes are some of the signs of myopia. Parents and teachers should look out for these signs among children and consult an ophthalmologist immediately, if they observe any of these among their children or pupils. Early detection results in better management and outcomes.
Myopia is on the rise among children around the world and India, due to changing lifestyles. Too much screen time, not spending enough time outdoors in sunlight, reading too close or in in sufficient light are some of the reasons why children develop myopia. Sometimes, it runs in the family.
Less screen time, outdoor play in sunlight, reading in ample light holding books at the right angle are some ways that the onset of myopia can be slowed.
At the awareness walk, Dr Aditi Parikh Samirbhai, Consultant Peadiatric Ophthalmologist at L V Prasad Eye Institute’s GMR Varalakshmi Campus in Visakhapatnam, urged teachers and parents to watch out for children having difficulty with seeing either the black board or objects at a distance and seek immediate medical advice if found to exhibit any such signs.
Dr Virender Sachdeva, Campus Head of L V Prasad Eye Institute’s GMR Varalakshmi Campus in Visakhapatnam provided much needed solace to parents, saying, 'Myopia can be managed effectively, if detected early. Outcomes are directly proportional to the stage at which it is diagnosed.'
About L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI)
Established in 1987, with the vision, 'to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,' the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a comprehensive eye health facility, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness.
In pursuance of this vision, LVPEI clinicians and scientists work at the cutting edge of eye research. Through its five-tier 'Eye Health Pyramid' model, it has till date offered over 36.89 million services (3 crores 68 lakh services), with more than 50% entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed. For further information, visit the Institute’s website, www.lvpei.org.