Does Your Child Have An Eye Condition? 4 Signs Your Child Needs An Eye Exam

Some common eye problems in children are easy to notice, and parents often catch them early. These problems include blurry vision, lazy eyes, and crossed eyes. However, conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and poor visual perception can go unnoticed for a long time. If left undetected, these eye problems can affect your kid's education and social life. Therefore, look out for the following signs that indicate your child needs an eye exam.

Difficulty Reading and Concentrating on Tasks

If your child is already in kindergarten, they should be learning how to read. If your child has difficulty reading, don't assume that they don't love learning. Eye problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, can cause kids to experience eye strain when reading, writing, or concentrating on tasks. Consequently, the child will seem disinterested in the activity due to the eye discomfort it causes. Therefore, observe your child further and look for signs of eyestrain. For example, do they squint when watching the television or reading? If so, the child requires an eye exam to pinpoint the problem.

Frequent Eye Rubbing

It is common for kids to rub their eyes when upset, tired, or after crying. However, if your child rubs their eyes all the time, especially when reading, playing, or focusing on tasks, they may have an eye problem. Conditions such as nearsightedness cause blurry vision when looking at distant objects. Therefore, one may rub their eyes to get rid of the fog and see clearly. Poor visual perception can also cause kids to rub their eyes when undertaking physical activity. 

Unexplained Headaches

Vision problems cause the eyes to work too hard, which leads to excessive muscle contraction. These muscle contractions cause eye strain and pain, which can lead to headaches and discomfort. If your child gets headaches after concentrating on a task for a long time, they may have vision problems. Note that excessive use of digital devices such as smartphones can cause kids to develop eyestrain and headaches. Therefore, limit screen time and ensure that your child doesn't sit too close to the television.

Increased Anxiety

Eye problems can cause anxiety in your child, especially in school and around other kids. If the eyes aren't working properly, one can easily lose focus and mental clarity. Therefore, your child may get anxious and fidgety when asked to read in school. They may have trouble completing schoolwork, which may ultimately affect their grades. Vision problems can also make it difficult for your child to play well with others, leading to anxiety and social isolation.

Vision problems can affect your child's education, social life, and emotional health. Therefore, look out for the above problems that indicate your child may require eye treatment. Visit an optometrist for eye examination and treatment.