Most children find it hard to express their feelings or discuss their needs. This can lead to health problems not being caught early enough. Parents could have prevented these problems if only they had noticed them.
One of these health problems is vision problems. Unfortunately, many parents don't realize their child has a visual impairment. This is usually not until they are already in middle or high school.
So, this article will look at some signs and symptoms that show your child needs prescription glasses.
Signs to Know if Your Child Needs Prescription Glasses
These signs will help you determine whether your child needs to get eyeglasses the same day. The sooner they are diagnosed, the better. Left untreated, some of these conditions can lead to permanent vision damage.
Squinting eyes and tilting head
The first sign of a visual problem is when your child squints their eyes and tilts their head. This happens because they need help seeing clearly. It can lead to headaches and eye fatigue. If your child often squints, get them checked by an optometrist immediately.
Excessive tearing
Another sign that your child needs to see an optometrist is when they tear excessively. This could be because of eye irritation or dryness. It can also be a symptom of something more severe, like allergies or bacterial infection. If your child's eyes are watering and red, have them checked by an optometrist.
Using a finger to read
If your child uses their fingers to read, they may have a vision problem. Children who cannot see clearly will often try to get around it by using an object to help them. If your child uses their finger to read, get them checked by an optometrist immediately.
Losing their place while reading
Most times, when children lose their place while reading, it's not because they can't read. Instead, they are having trouble focusing on the words in front of them.
This could be because of a visual problem like strabismus or nearsightedness. Here, your child sees two images instead of one. Suppose your child loses their place often while reading. Then an appointment with an optometrist is in order.
Rubbing eyes and eye fatigue
Suppose your child is rubbing their eyes a lot while reading. It could indicate an eye condition such as dry eye syndrome. Other symptoms often accompany this condition. They can include watery eyes and redness.
Does your child experience eye fatigue or headaches after reading for a while? This, too, could be indicative of an underlying problem associated with their vision.
Covering one eye to see
Vision problems can cause a child to lose focus and become frustrated. Suppose your child covers one eye while reading or trying to complete a task. This may indicate an underlying issue with their vision.
Your child might cover one eye. This is because they are experiencing double vision. After all, they are straining to focus on something close up. This symptom can be caused by astigmatism or nearsightedness in children.
Complaining about blurry vision at specific distances
Does your child complain about blurry vision at specific distances? Many issues, including astigmatism, can cause blurry vision. Does your child complain about blurry distant vision? This could indicate an underlying problem with their eyesight.
Your child may also complain that things look "too far away" or like they are "blowing up" when they try to focus on them.
Performance in school
Most parents might have children struggling in school. But they don't realize that their children may suffer from vision issues. Some children will hide their struggles with reading, writing, and other activities. This is because they are embarrassed by how bad their eyesight is.
Suppose your child cannot focus on things in class or gets headaches after reading for long periods. Then this could indicate poor vision.
Extreme light sensitivity and headaches
Extreme light sensitivity and headaches are also common symptoms of poor vision. Some children experience severe light sensitivity. They must wear sunglasses or other eye protection whenever they go outside.
This is not normal for otherwise healthy children. But it could indicate that their eyes are damaged from too much bright light exposure.
Sitting too close to screens.
Does your child have difficulty seeing well and have to sit very close to a television or computer screen? This could indicate poor vision. Children experiencing problems with their eyesight may hold books closer than usual to read.
Conclusion
The above signs and symptoms indicate that a child may experience vision problems. Suppose you notice any of these signs in your child. You must schedule an appointment with an optometrist as soon as possible. They can perform tests and examinations to determine what is causing the symptoms.
