Think your child might have vision problems? Here are the top signs to watch for.
The pediatric eye doctors at Florida Eye Specialists and Cataract Institute are devoted to the eye health and growth of your children. Due to their rapid growth and developing systems, it’s essential to check your children’s eye health with an annual pediatric eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
We recommend your children have their first eye exam at about age two and then every year after that. Annual eye exams help ensure the healthy development of the eyes and allow early detection of any problems that require more or specialized treatment. If there is an issue, our pediatric eye doctors will develop a customized treatment plan for your child’s condition.
As a parent, we understand that your child’s health is important to you and that you may want some tips and suggestions of what you can do between annual pediatric eye exam. Our pediatric eye doctors have shared the most common signs children exhibit when they suffer from vision-related problems.
Top Signs Related to Vision Problems in Children:
- Sitting close to a viewed item
If your child leaves the sofa to sit closer to the TV or holds a book too close to their nose, these are signs that they may suffer from nearsightedness.
- Eye rubbing
Excessive rubbing of the eyes when your child is thinking, maintaining focus, or being active is a sign that their vision may be impaired.
- Losing place when reading
Like rubbing their eyes when maintaining focus, if your child easily loses their place when reading, this is a sign that their vision may be impaired.
- Tearing from light sensitivity
Does your child tear up in bright light situations? Other symptoms of light sensitivity to look for include headaches and nausea. If you notice that your child avoids direct sunlight or camera flashes, this can be a sign of many vision conditions.
- Eye strain or pain from any electronic device
Digital eye strain is not just a symptom that adults experience. If your child experiences tired eyes or eye pain, this is a sign that their eyes are working too hard to process what they are seeing.
- Squinting
If your child must close one eye or consistently squints when focusing on something in their line of sight, these are signs they may suffer from farsightedness.
If your child consistently shows any of these signs, contact Florida Eye Specialists and Cataract Institute immediately to schedule a comprehensive pediatric eye exam.
If you would like to learn more about pediatric eye exams and understand what your child would experience, visit our previous article where we share what you can expect.
