Parents want the best for their children, including clear vision and healthy eyes. However, while it’s easy to spot a scraped knee or a cold, vision problems in children can often go unnoticed. Kids may not realize they have vision problems, so it’s important for parents to spot the subtle signs such as:
Frequent squinting
If you catch your child squinting while reading, watching TV, or trying to see something far away, it might be a clue that they’re struggling to see clearly. Squinting can help sharpen blurry vision temporarily, but it’s not a permanent solution! Their eye doctor can determine if glasses or another treatment is needed.
Tilting their head or covering one eye
Sometimes, kids tilt their heads or cover one eye to see better, and this can be a sign of issues like lazy eye or eye misalignment. These conditions might cause double vision, which they’re trying to correct on their own. Noticing this early on and seeing a pediatric optometrist can make a big difference in treatment outcomes.
Sitting too close to screens
While many kids love sitting close to the TV or holding tablets and smartphones near their faces, this could be more than just a habit. Sitting unusually close to screens or books may mean your child is nearsighted and can’t see clearly from a distance. Scheduling regular eye exams can help determine whether your child needs glasses to correct their distance vision.
Frequent headaches
Does your child often complain about headaches after reading or using a computer? This could be due to eye strain. Children may not always express discomfort the way adults do, so recurring headaches should be taken seriously and evaluated by an eye doctor to rule out vision problems.
Eye rubbing or excessive blinking
While it’s normal for children to rub their eyes when they’re tired, frequent eye rubbing or excessive blinking can be a sign that something is wrong with their vision. These behaviors may indicate eye strain, discomfort, or an uncorrected refractive error like astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness.
Avoiding close-up activities
If your child avoids reading, drawing, or other activities that require focusing on up-close objects, they may be struggling with vision problems. Difficulty seeing things clearly up close can make these tasks frustrating or tiring.
Trouble tracking objects
If your child struggles to follow moving objects, such as a ball during a game or words on a page while reading, they may have a problem with eye coordination. This could indicate an issue with how their eyes work together, making it difficult to focus or track smoothly. Eye coordination problems can affect reading, learning, sports, and other daily activities, but they can be addressed with the right treatment.
Schedule your child’s eye exam today
Catching vision problems early is key to helping your child succeed. At Walter Eye Clinic, we offer pediatric eye exams in Tinley Park, IL to detect issues and ensure your child’s vision stays on track. Routine eye exams are a great way to keep their eyes healthy and prevent long-term problems.
If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your child, our team at Walter Eye Clinic is ready to provide gentle, expert care. Schedule an appointment for your child today!
