How can you tell if your child may need glasses? Several tell-tale signs include:
Squinting
Your child is constantly squinting, either to see things that are close up, indicating farsightedness, or far away, indicating nearsightedness. Also, if your child is sitting too close, say to the TV, a computer screen, or has to sit at the front of a classroom, he or she may be nearsighted. Conversely, if he or she has to be a distance away from the TV, computer screen, or the front of the class, farsightedness may be indicated.
Headaches
If you notice that your child suffers from frequent headaches or even nausea, it may be a sign that he or she needs vision correction. The effort to bring nearby objects into focus can cause these symptoms. It also may be a sign of light sensitivity.
Difficulty Learning to Read
One of the first and most important things that a child learns to do in school is to read. The ability to read is the basis of just about every other kind of learning. However, if the child has a vision problem such as farsightedness, he or she will almost certainly find learning to read difficult at best. A sign of a vision problem is if the child uses a finger to follow along while reading.
Excessive Tearing and Eye Strain
The need for acquiring glasses for vision correction can manifest itself when the child has excessive tearing, which might be caused by a condition called Lag ophthalmic, which can occur when the eyes do not close completely during sleep. Also, if the child is rubbing his or her eyes excessively it may be a sign that he or she is developing eye strain because of the inability to see things in focus. It might be a sign of something else, such as dry eyes, which can be addressed with eye drops.
Covering One Eye
Finally, if the child is seen to cover one eye, it may be a sign that he or she can see out of one eye better than the other. This may be a sign of amblyopia or astigmatism in the weak eye.
When to Take Your Child to the Eye Doctor
If your child displays any of these symptoms, it is a good idea to take him or her to see an eye doctor for a vision examination for a possible prescription for eyeglasses. Indeed, the American Optometric Association advises that you take your child for a vision exam between the ages of three and five before the child enters school.
A Vision Exam Before Your Child Attends School
Preschoolers engage in activities such as drawing pictures and playing with blocks that can help them learn later in life. Any undetected vision problem can present a child with difficulty which, if not corrected with eyeglasses, can inhibit his or her schooling. It is a good idea to have a child undergo an eye examination as soon in life as possible so that any developing vision issues can be caught and dealt with early.
Contact Us
If you have any more questions about getting your child an eye examination or want to take him or her in to have it done, feel free to contact Silk Vision and Surgical Center, an ophthalmologist practice with offices in Alexandria Virginia, Annandale Virginia, and Manassas Virginia.
Silk Vision is staffed with skilled eye doctors and has a Lasik eye center as well as offers a clear lens replacement procedure in the event of a cataract. Our patients know that with Silk Vision they can get an “eye exam near me.”
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