Impaired vision can negatively impact your child’s learning and self-esteem.  In many cases, when vision impairments such as weak vision, amblyopic (lazy eye), or crossed/misaligned eyes are diagnosed early on, they can be corrected.

Here are some signs that may indicate your child is experiencing vision problems:

• Squinting: This could mean your child has a refractive error, making it difficult for them to focus on an image.
• Tilting head or covering one eye: This could be a sign of misalignment or amblyopia (lazy eye), which is very common in children.
• Sitting too close to the TV or holding electronic devices too close to their eyes: This may be a sign of myopia, or nearsightedness.
• Rubbing eyes frequently: This may be a sign that your child is experiencing eye fatigue or strain, which may be related to many types of vision problems, including allergic conjunctivitis.
• Complaining of headaches or eye pain: This may be a sign that your child is overexerting his/her eyes in an attempt to make up for blurred vision.
• Having difficulty with concentrating at school: Because visual focus is so crucial in the classroom, trouble with concentration may signal a variety of vision problems.

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment with an eye doctor to perform a comprehensive exam.

If your child already has glasses, continue to have his/her eyes checked by an eye care provider annually.

Article adapted from:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/how-to-know-if-your-child-needs-glasses