As parents, we are always on the lookout to see if something might be troubling our children’s health. If it’s the eyes, catching them early will make a great difference. From squinting while reading stories to having their noses up against the TV, there are so many small signs which may point to a problem with vision in your child.
Here in this post, we’re going to walk you through the most common eye problems kids experience, what to be on the lookout for, and when to schedule that visit to the eye doctor. Don’t worry, most kid eye problems are an easy treat if caught early on, and having some knowledge of what to watch out for is half the battle. For more detailed guidance, resources like aiuto-tesi.it can be surprisingly helpful. Let’s get to what every parent needs to know about keeping those precious little eyes healthy and seeing clearly.
Nearsightedness is perhaps the most frequent vision disorder we encounter in children. If your child can read things up close as well as can be anticipated but struggles to read signs that are far away, they might be nearsighted. You might notice them squinting to read the board at school, sitting extremely close to the television, or reading books brought up close to their face.
What to watch for: Not being able to read the whiteboard at school, headaches after visual tasks, or constantly squinting when looking at far objects.
The good news is that nearsightedness can be easily corrected with glasses. Your eye doctor might recommend limiting screen time and encouraging outdoor playtime since some studies suggest that outdoor play could slow down the progression of nearsightedness.
This condition is the opposite of nearsightedness. Farsightedness is when your child can see distant objects well but cannot see close objects or text. Children are often born slightly farsighted, but they outgrow it as their eyes mature.
What to watch for: Avoid reading or close up activities, eye fatigue, headaches after reading, or frequent rubbing of eyes while doing homework.
Like nearsightedness, farsightedness can be corrected with glasses. Some children need to wear their glasses only for reading or for homework.
Astigmatism sounds scary, but it’s just when the eye is not round (more football-shaped than basketball-shaped). This causes blurry or crooked vision at all distances.
What to watch for: Complaining of blurry vision, difficulty focusing, squinting regardless of what they’re looking at, or tilting their head to improve their view.
Glasses can readily correct astigmatism. Most children have a mild amount of astigmatism that doesn’t need to be corrected, but others may need glasses to see clearly.
Lazy eye happens when a single eye doesn’t develop full vision during childhood. The brain starts to favor the stronger eye and ignores signals from the weaker eye. Unless it is treated early, this can result in permanent vision problems.
What to watch for: Eyes that appear to wander or look in different directions, poor sense of depth (trouble catching balls or gauging distances), or shutting/squinting one eye to see better.
Early treatment is needed with lazy eye. Your doctor can prescribe an eye patch over the stronger eye, special eye drops, or glasses to strengthen the weaker eye. The earlier your child is treated, the better the outcome usually is.
Crossed eyes (or turned eyes) happen when the eyes are not level when looking at something. One eye can turn in, out, up, or down while the other one looks straight ahead.
What to watch for: Eyes that don’t go together or appear not to be lined up properly, double vision (your child might say they see two of everything), or closing an eye when trying to focus.
Treatment may be glasses, eye exercises, or in some cases even surgery. Just like lazy eye, the sooner it gets treated, the better.
If you’ve had children in school or daycare, then you’ve probably encountered pink eye. This very common eye infection results in redness, a goop discharge, and a tendency for eyelashes to stick together.
What to watch for: Red eyes, green or yellow discharge, crusty eyelashes (especially in the morning), watery eyes, and complaint of burning or itching eyes.
Depending on the cause (it can be viral, bacterial, or allergic), your physician might prescribe antibiotic eye drops or treatment at home. Pink eye is infectious, so frequently wash hands and avoid sharing towels or pillows.
With today’s electronic age, we are seeing more kids with eye strain from too much screen time. While not a chronic eye problem, digital eye strain may result in temporary discomfort.
What to watch for: Dry and red eyes, headaches after using devices, difficulty focusing, and general fatigue in the eyes.
The 20-20-20 rule can help: let the child look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes spent in front of screens. Also, have screens at eye level and brightly lit to prevent straining.
Colour blindness is more common than you might think, especially in boys. It is usually inherited and stops people from being able to tell certain colours apart, especially reds and greens.
What to watch for: Difficulty naming or matching colours, colouring with incorrect colors (like purple for blue or brown for red), or trouble with colour-coded information at school.
Even though there is no cure for color blindness, knowing about it will help you support your child. Inform their teachers so that they can adjust lessons and activities as needed.
Even though routine eye exams are needed for each child, there are certain signs which need an immediate appointment:
• Excessive blinking or rubbing of eyes
• Short attention span for visual tasks
• Trouble keeping up with an object using his/her eyes
• Unusual eye movement or misalignment
• Hyper sensitivity to light
• Visible change in your child’s vision
• White or greyish-white colour of the pupil
• Persistent redness or pain in the eyes
Remember that kids don’t generally know their vision is different from everyone else’s, so they might not say anything. That’s why regular screening is important. Most schools offer minimal vision screening, but an in-depth eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist is recommended for each child before school and then as directed by your eye care provider.
We often say that, prevention is better than cure. Following are some simple ways to safeguard your child’s eye health:
• Limit screen time and practice the 20-20-20 rule
• Have a lot of outdoor play (at least 1-2 hours a day)
• Serve foods that are full of vitamins A, C, and E, and omega-3 fatty acids (brightly colored fruits and vegetables, fish)
• Give sufficient lighting for reading and homework
• Make sure children wear protective eye wear while playing sports
• Do not expose young children to sharp objects
• Use household cleaners that are child-friendly
• Make sure the child wears sunglasses outdoors (UV exposure is damaging to eyes)
Remember that your child’s eyes are still developing and growing in their early years. Regular eye checks can spot issues early on when they are the easiest to treat. If you notice any signs or if your child complains about his or her eyes or eyesight, do not delay calling an eye care practitioner for an appointment.
Your child might not even know that the way they are seeing isn’t normal, so trust your instincts. You know your child best, and if something doesn’t seem right about their vision, it’s always better to investigate. Healthy eyes are a secret to school success, sports success, and overall life success!