These days it’s very common for children to have their vision checked during a doctor’s appointment. Even if your child’s vision seems alright to get around, you may not notice some bigger problems that may be at play. Many children are diagnosed with some sort of learning disability, and in many cases, the root cause is a need for corrective vision or glasses. A child who is having trouble at school is even more likely to need glasses. A number of kids suffer from an undetected vision problem for years before they’re tested and given glasses. It’s not uncommon for school vision screenings to miss a variety of vision problems. Fortunately, parents can watch for several signs that could indicate a vision problem.
Eye Rubbing
A lot of children rub their eyes when they get tired. However, a major cause of rubbing is eye fatigue. There are many different types of vision problems that can cause eye fatigue.
For example, conjunctivitis is actually a medical condition, and it’s known to cause vision issues. Occasional eye rubbing is normal, but parents need to watch for excessive rubbing because it could indicate the need for glasses.
Sensitivity to Light
There are some vision problems that mask themselves as sensitivity to light. For example, there is a condition called exotropia, a form of strabismus which manifests as a sensitivity to light.
A child who has this condition is likely to squint with one eye when exposed to bright sunlight. To watch for this sign, parents should pay close attention on bright, sunny days.
Too Many Tears
Another sign that could indicate the need for glasses is excessive tearing. It’s not uncommon for children to have a condition called lagophthalmos. This condition dries out a child’s eyes during the night because it prevents the child’s eyes from closing fully while he or she sleeps. A sign that a child has this condition is excessive daytime tearing, which can greatly interfere with a child’s vision.
Difficulty Reading
A very common sign that a child might need glasses is difficulty reading. When a child loses his or her place, or skips lines while reading, it could indicate the presence of a vision problem. If a child is having difficulty reading, it could be caused by astigmatism or strabismus.
Excessive Squinting
It’s important for parents to understand that squinting is very similar to looking through a small pinhole. By looking through a pinhole, a child is able to reduce the blurred image on the back of his or her retina. Put simply, a child squints because it temporarily improves vision. However, squinting can also be a sign of vision problems, and they could be squinting to compensate.
Activity Avoidance
If they’re having vision issues, many children will avoid activities. It’s even more likely a child needs glasses when they don’t take part in activities they might normally like. A child might avoid physical activities, reading, and coloring. Of course it’s important to know what is out of the ordinary. Parents must determine why their child is avoiding activities act appropriately.
Frequent Headaches
We all get sick or have occasional headache, which is no cause for concern, but when a child is frequently grabbing his or her head and complaining of pain, it’s a sign that glasses could be needed. Their eyes might be working overtime to compensate for bad vision.
If you suspect your child has a vision problem, these are some of the best signs to watch for. However, after discovering a problem, it’s important to take appropriate action and get the child the corrective help needed. According to Davis Vision Center, many vision problems can be corrected with LASIK surgery. This is a surgical procedure, and it’s available at a reputable vision center. If they aren’t old enough for this, glasses will be a good solution for the time being.
