Depending on the age of your child, vision problems can be hard to detect. For very young children, parents have to pay particular attention to their child to notice vision problems, but as children get a bit older, more to school age, children often give off warning signs of vision problems. When children have been living most of their lives with blurred vision, they might not even realize what they are missing. As parents, there are signs to look out for so that we can help our children see clearly.
Sitting Very Close To The Television Or Computer
In today’s day in age, children start watching television and playing on the computer at a young age. Watching a child’s habits while they are watching television or playing on the computer can give a parent a signal the child might have a vision problem. When a child is watching a program or playing a game on the computer, it is not normal to sit very close to the screen. If the child is incredibly close to the screen, this might be a sign of a vision problem.
Squints Or Closes One Eye While Reading
Another sign that your child might have a vision problem is if he or she squints or closes one eye while reading a book or for young children, looking at pictures. This is a way to try and focus the text or pictures of the book better. If you notice your child squinting, address the problem by asking your child about it and then taking them to an eye doctor.
Has Bad Headaches During The School Day
A common sign of a vision problem in a child is a bad headache during or after the school day. According to a Calgary Optometrist from Eyeconx, an occasional headache is not necessarily a sign as that could be caused by stress or anything else, but reoccurring headaches are often a sign of vision issues. As the child struggles to see clearly during the school day, this puts stress on them and can easily cause headaches. It’s best to see an optometrist so you can either get their vision corrected or rule it out as a problem and find out what is causing it.
Noticeable Visual Eye Problems
A child having an eye that crosses in or out, or their eyes do not work as a pair can be a tell tale sign that there is a vision problem going on. Eyes crossing or not working as a pair can cause one eye to take control over the other making one eye much weaker. If you notice anything like this, your child most likely needs vision correction.
Redness In Eyes That Lasts For Days
Redness in eyes is not uncommon, but it is uncommon to last for days or be coupled with sensitivity. Redness in a child’s eyes that does not go away for days could be a sign of vision problems.
Detecting vision problems in children can sometimes be difficult because a child does not know a vision problem is there, however, there are signs that to look for if you think your child might have a vision problem. If multiple signs point toward your child having a vision problem it is important to get an optometrist appointment set up to narrow down and diagnose the issue. Vision problems are generally easily corrected and it’s best to seek out care as soon as you think there may be a problem. If children go to school without seeing clearly, their grades and self esteem may suffer simply because of their inability to see and understand things clearly.
