Tanni Haas, Ph.D. | Contributor
About one-quarter of kids need eye glasses or have other vision problems that require a visit to the ophthalmologist or optometrist. But how do you know if your kids are among them? “Small children can’t tell you if they’re not seeing well,” says pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Luke Randall, “and older kids may not recognize their blurry eyesight isn’t normal.” Here are the most common signs that it’s time to make an appointment with a pediatric eye doctor:
They sit or stand very close to the television screen
“One of the biggest hints that a child may need an eye exam,” Dr. Randall says, “is taking note of where they sit when watching TV. Dashing up to stand in front of the television is usually a sign that their eyes need to be checked out.” If your kids sit or stand very close to the television screen, chances are that something might be wrong with their eye sight, not just that they can’t get close enough to all the exciting programs that they’re watching.
They hold phones and laptops close to their face
The same is true when your kids hold their phones or laptops close to their face. “If your child needs to sit very close to screens to see them clearly or needs to get very close to text to read it,” says optometrist Dr. Sara Johnson, “it can be sign that they have myopia (nearsightedness).” Phones and laptops are designed to be held at a safe viewing distance, and holding them too close can have a detrimental impact on kids’ eyesight.
They hunch over their schoolwork
Another tell-tale sign is that your kids are hunched over when they do their schoolwork or are drawing something. “Kids who need an eye exam,” Dr. Randall says, “will often sit hunched over their drawings or homework, which keeps the paper and their writing closer to their faces.”
They have difficulty keeping up with their school work
Often, vision problems can make it difficult for kids to keep up with their school work, and some kids may even stop doing their homework altogether. Optometrist Dr. Russell Lazarus advises parents to be on the look-out for signs like whether their kids read on grade level, lose their place when reading, skip lines, or use their fingers to follow along. You can also ask your kids to read out loud to you, explain what they’ve read, or ask them if the text gets distorted or blurry when they read. “Refractive errors and other vision problems,” Dr. Lazarus says, “can make reading difficult – and affect a child’s overall academic performance.” For younger kids, optometrist Dr. Sarah Lopper says, notice whether they have difficulties recognizing their colors or learning letters or numbers.
They rub their eyes
You can also tell if a trip to the eye doctor is needed by watching to see if they rub their eyes a lot. It’s common to rub your eyes when you’re tired, but if your kids rub their eyes while reading, they may have a vision problem. “Rubbing the eyes is a common practice among children who don’t have the verbal skills to communicate a problem with their vision,” Dr. Lazarus says, “and instead try to rub the blurry vision away.”
They close one eye
Also notice whether they tend to keep one eye closed a lot, especially when they’re reading or playing a game on their phone or laptop. “This might indicate that your child sees better out of one eye compared to the other,” Dr. Johnson says. “Closing one eye enables the stronger eye to send a clear image to the brain, resulting in clearer vision.” You can also tell which eye your kid is having trouble with by covering each of their eyes one at a time and then asking them what they can see and which eye sees more clearly.
They squint
Squinting is another possible sign of vision problems. When you squint, the shape of your eyes changes a bit, making it easier to see what you’re looking at. It limits the amount of light that enters the eyes and focuses incoming light directly onto the center of the retina. “Squinting (at something close or something at a distance),” Dr. Randall says, “is a dead giveaway that your child’s vision may not be what it can be.”
They complain about headaches
Another sign that it’s time for your kids to go see the eye doctor is if they complain of frequent headaches. “While frequent headaches don’t necessarily mean your child has an eye problem,” Dr. Randall says, “it can be an indicator that a child is having trouble seeing.” This is especially the case when kids complete near vision tasks like doing work on their laptop or read a book. “Headaches typically occur,” Dr. Lazarus says, “when the child’s eye muscles have to work extra hard to focus on the images in front of them.” Another possibility, which an eye doctor can assess, is if they’re photophobic (sensitive to light). “If your child is getting headaches when they are outside for some time,” Dr. Johnson says, “this can be a sign that they’re photophobic.” The eye doctor can prescribe special eyeglass lenses and sunglasses to reduce the severity of your kid’s sensitivity to light and help them see more clearly in bright conditions.
They complain about eye pain and other eye problems
An even clearer sign that something is amiss is if your kids complain about eye pain or other eye problems. “Eye pain may be a symptom of something as minor as eye strain,” Dr. Randall says, “but it can also indicate another health problem.” The same is true for complains about itchy, burning, or scratchy eyes, Dr. Frederick says. The underlying cause could be something minor or something more serious. An eye doctor will be able to tell.
Vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids get vision screenings at birth, by 6 months of age, at 3-4 years of age, at 5 years of age, and then once a year. But if you notice any of the signs discussed here, either take your kids to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist to get a comprehensive eye exam or discuss with your pediatrician on what to do next. After all, there are important differences between a vision screening, which is typically done by a pediatrician, and a comprehensive eye exam, which is performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. During a comprehensive eye exam, a whole host of issues potentially impacting your kids’ vision will be assessed, and it includes a thorough examination of their ocular health.
About the Author:
Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at The City University of New York – Brooklyn College.
Editor’s Note: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not constitute medical or other professional advice.
