Is increasing cylindrical power normal in a 5-year-old?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and can understand your concern.

I am really glad you are keeping such a close eye on your daughter’s vision and noticing these changes. That kind of attention truly makes a difference. Let me explain everything in a calm and simple way so you can understand what is happening and what it means for her.

The cylindrical power written in her prescription refers to astigmatism. Astigmatism means that the front surface of the eye (the cornea) or the lens inside the eye is not perfectly round. Instead of being shaped like a smooth football, it is slightly uneven, so light does not focus properly on the retina. This can cause blurred or distorted vision at all distances.

The axis (in her case, 180) tells us the direction of that irregular shape. Since her axis remained the same, the astigmatism's orientation has not changed; only its strength has slightly increased.

12 months ago, her cylindrical power was -3.00 with vision 6/9. Six months ago, it became -3.50 with vision 6/7.5. This means her astigmatism increased by 0.50 diopters over six months. A change of 0.50 in six months is not unusual in growing children. Children’s eyes are still developing, and some changes in power can happen during growth phases.

That said, -3.00 to -3.50 is considered moderate to relatively high astigmatism for a child, so it does require regular monitoring. The slight drop in vision is small and still within a good functional range, but it reinforces the need for follow-up.

The important thing now is consistency. She should wear her glasses full-time, especially at this age. This helps prevent amblyopia, which is commonly called lazy eye. Amblyopia happens when the brain starts ignoring input from one eye because the image is unclear. Over time, that eye may not develop normal vision unless corrected early.

Regular eye check-ups every six months are a good plan until her prescription stabilizes. If the power starts increasing rapidly or if vision drops more significantly, her ophthalmologist may investigate further. But at this stage, the change you described is not alarming, just something to watch carefully.

You are doing the right thing by staying informed and proactive. With proper correction and monitoring, most children with astigmatism do very well and develop stable, healthy vision.

I hope this answers your query.

Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.