Second Chances: The Role Of Optometrists In Eye Care

Your child's vision is an important aspect of their overall health and development. While it's normal for children's vision to change as they grow, there are certain signs that may indicate that your child might need their eyes examined by an optometrist to see if they need any additional support or help. It is important that, as their parents, you keep your own eyes open and watch how their vision progresses or, perhaps, stalls. Here are a few of the early warning signs that you should be looking for that will indicate that eye examinations are a necessity in the near future.

Observation From Teachers About Not Seeing The Board Properly Or A Lack Of Focus

One sign that your child might need their eyes examined is if they are having difficulty reading or seeing the board in school. This can manifest in a variety of ways, such as struggling to read or write, avoiding close-up tasks or complaining of eye strain or headaches when reading. Their teacher may even bring these concerns up to you, and if they mention things like your child struggles to focus, then you may want to get their eyes checked as soon as you can. While this is not always the definitive cause of not paying attention at school, it often is.

Holding Their Phone Very Close To Their Face

Another sign that your child might need their eyes examined is if they are frequently squinting or holding objects close to their face. While all children may squint from time to time, especially in bright sunlight, excessive squinting or holding objects close to the face can be a sign of poor vision. The easiest way to tell if they are squinting more than they should be is to watch them use their phone or computer. If they pull these devices very close to their faces, you have a clear indication they struggle to see clearly from moderate distances.

Frequently Rubbing Their Eyes

While this symptom is more common among babies and toddlers who do not fully recognize or understand what is happening to them, it is still a helpful warning sign that their vision may not be as good as it should be at their age. This could be due to a variety of issues, such as dry eyes, allergies or vision problems. If you notice that your child is rubbing their eyes or blinking excessively, it's important to have their eyes examined to determine the cause and address any underlying issues. A simple eye examination should be more than enough to give you a definitive answer to what is wrong with your kid's eyes.