Although vision loss is typically associated with aging, people of all ages can experience issues that contribute to diminished vision. Sometimes parents may be unaware that their children have low vision or other issues compromising their sight, particularly when children are too young to verbalize their impairments. The Mayo Clinic notes additional symptoms, such as squinting while reading or holding reading material closely may be more apparent.
Parents, caregivers and even teachers can keep an eye out for these symptoms to determine if kids are having vision problems.
Blurriness: A child may complain of things being blurry, whether that means words in a book or on a smart screen in the classroom.
Headaches: Straining to see better can cause headaches. If a child starts complaining of frequent headaches, an eye exam may be in order.
Attention span: If your child quickly loses interest in games or other lengthy activities, it may be that poor vision is making it more difficult to fully participate.
Losing place: Someone with vision issues may experience difficulty keeping track of words while reading.
Eye rubbing: Prevent Blindness says rubbing tired eyes can be an indicator of a vision problem, as can tilting one’s head or thrusting the head forward.
Feeling dizzy: Some people with vision problems feel dizzy or out of sorts at times.
Physical symptoms: Sometimes vision problems may be apparent because you can see there is something amiss. Eyes that don’t line up, eyes that appear crossed, redness in the eyes or rims, or red, inflamed eyes can be symptomatic of a vision problem.
Eye exam results: Eye doctors conduct a series of tests during an eye exam. During an automatic refraction test, visual acuity can be measured when an autorefractor shines light into the eye and measures the eye’s response. It’s commonly used with children who cannot communicate what they’re seeing and can help diagnose vision trouble.
Vision issues can present themselves in children and not be as readily apparent to the adults in their lives. Familiarizing oneself with certain symptoms is a way to diagnose vision trouble earlier.
