Good vision is required for children to do well in school. Children need to see clearly what is written on a whiteboard, projected to a screen, and the text in a book or activity sheet. Vision also plays a part in team sports and playtime with Legos, a tablet, or coloring. If your child is having trouble in any of these areas, the first thing to do is check his or her vision.
Look for the Signs
If your child is having difficulty reading or learning to read, poor eyesight may be the reason. This can be remedied with glasses or contact lenses. Here are seven signs to look for:
1. Difficulty focusing on schoolwork
In school, most children need to change focus very quickly from whiteboards and projected videos to tablets or textbooks. This may be difficult or impossible for a child with any of the following eye problems and can result in the child losing interest in school or doing poorly.
2. Constantly rubbing his eyes
This could indicate eyestrain or eye fatigue. If the child’s eyesight is blurry, or if he has a condition such as allergic conjunctivitis, he may rub his eyes very often. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the membrane lining of the inside of the eyelid. It may be caused by bacteria or viruses, chemicals in the air or eye medicines, or by allergic reactions.
3. Squinting
Squinting happens naturally when anyone wants to see well. Children may do it because of a refractive error, which affects focus. This is caused when the shape of the eye blocks light from directly reaching the retina. There are several refractive errors including:
- Hyperopia
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
- Myopia
4. Covering one eye or tilting the head
Covering one eye to see could be an indication that the eyes are misaligned. It may also mean she has a lazy eye, the most common eye disorder in children. Strabismus is an imbalance in the eye muscles. It may cause double vision, and covering one eye or tilting the head to get a different perspective may help make the vision clearer.
5. Holding a tablet very close to the face
Myopia is also called nearsightedness. This means the vision is clearer when objects are close to the eye. The distance vision is not clear. If you notice your child holding things closer to their face to read this could be the reason.
6. Often complaining of eye pain or headaches
Struggling to see things clearly puts a lot of strain on the eyes and can often cause headaches from squinting and straining the eyes for long periods of time. If you notice your child has frequent headaches from trying to read in school this could mean they need glasses.
7. Clumsiness
most growing children tend to be clumsy and bump into tables and chairs and tripping over a simple wrinkle in a rug. Parents may tend to ignore it. This could be normal growing pains or poor eyesight. If it happens regularly especially in older children six or seven years old, it is recommended to have the eyesight tested.
Common Conditions Glasses or Contact Lenses Can Treat:
- To improve vision
- To improve misaligned eyes
- To strengthen weak eyes
- For protection if one eye has poor vision
Some children don’t want to wear glasses but need to have their vision improved or corrected. In this case, contact lenses may be the answer. Children like the idea that they can get prescription colored contact lenses as well as lenses with awesome designs.
How to Get the Proper Diagnosis
Many schools offer vision tests. If your child has a problem with a vision test, it is recommended for the child to have an in-depth eye exam. If your child already wears glasses, you may know that an in-depth eye exam should be done every year. This exam will assess the child’s visual clarity as well as:
- Misalignment
- Overall health of the eye
- Depth perception
- Signs of more serious problems
During the normal growth of a child, almost all of the above symptoms may be seen at some time or other. The important thing for parents to observe is if any of these symptoms persist and affect the child’s daily activities and school work. If so, there is a good chance the child has a vision problem.
Along with the growth of a child, the visual system also continues to develop. This takes place until the child is seven or eight years old. Glasses or contact lenses may not only correct problems but also help the natural vision development.
