When children are young, it can be difficult to know if they have vision problems. However, as a responsible parent you need to be on the lookout for any indicative signs. Here are four signs your child might need glasses.
Difficulty Reading
Kids may have difficulty reading books for a number of reasons. These can include dyslexia, ADHD and other learning disorders. However, one potential reason is that she might be farsighted, which makes it difficult for her to see things nearby. If your child squints, tilts her head or covers one eye to try and make out what she is reading, the problem is likely a vision one.
Squinting
This is one of the easiest signs to notice. If your child is squinting a lot, that is a fairly big indicator that she might have a serious vision problem. Squinting all the time can lead to the headaches, eye pain or dizziness mentioned previously. Regardless of other symptoms, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that all children should get a comprehensive eye exam at six months of age. Discovering problems early will prevent undue difficulty for your child.
They Complain about Headaches or Eye Pain
Headaches, dizziness and eye pain are symptoms of your child overexerting his eyes to try and see clearly. If your child complains about eye pain or headaches often, or he seems disoriented, you should take him to an eye specialist, like Master Eye Associates, for an exam immediately. This symptom can also manifest in rubbing the eyes vigorously because too much strain can cause them to become irritated. Rubbing of the eyes can indicate other eye-related conditions as well, including allergies.
Performing Below Their Potential
If you know your child is smart but he is not doing well in school, an undiagnosed vision problem might be to blame. Undetected vision problems interfere with a child’s learning capabilities severely, so you want to catch the issue as early as possible. If you don’t, your child will fall behind in school which could jeopardize his future. Again, there may be other causes of low academic performance, such as ADHD or autism. But it is best to rule out an eye problem.
If your child is displaying any of these symptoms, you should get his or her eyes checked right away. Do a basic eye exam early to ensure everything about your child’s eyes is in order. If there is something wrong, you can pursue treatment options or get your child his first pair of glasses.
