Children’s eye health is a complicated topic as kids often cannot express when something is wrong with their vision. Childhood eye issues can have a permanent impact on a person’s life and should be handled with urgency and expert care. Here is what you should know about kids’ eye care.
Signs of a Vision Problem
When a child begins developing a vision problem, he or she may not be able to tell you what is happening. Parents and educators must be vigilant for signs of trouble. These red flags include more obvious signs like squinting and holding books very close to the face but also may present as learning delays or social issues. Kids may avoid participating in activities that require good close-up or distant vision. They may complain of headaches or rub their eyes a lot. Colorblind children may choose the wrong colors when drawing and coloring pictures of familiar objects.
Vision-Related Learning Problems
Children’s eye health issues could very quickly translate into learning difficulties. Challenges with long distance sight may mean that the child can’t see lessons written on the board at the front of the classroom. Trouble with close objects will result in reading challenges that may be misdiagnosed as learning delays. Colorblind kids can have problems reading letters printed on certain colors. While schools often have vision screening sessions, they are not comprehensive tests and may miss an important diagnosis.
The Need for Eye Exams
The best way to prevent a children’s eye health issue from becoming a permanent problem is to see an eye doctor on the prescribed schedule based on the child’s age. These important exams help identify issues at their earliest stage and formulate the right plan for correction. Most vision problems can be aided with the right prescription eyewear or use of vision therapy. Your eye doctor can also recommend adapted teaching techniques to overcome issues such as colorblindness.
Children’s eye health is complex and requires attention from infancy onward. If your child shows any of the symptoms mentioned above, schedule an eye exam today to discuss these and their potential solutions.
