Does Your Child Need Glasses | Optometrist Near Me

Children rely heavily on their vision to learn because they do so through observation. According to experts, 80 percent of all the learning children do is through their vision. With this in mind, your child must have the best vision. As a parent, you should be aware of the basics of eye health. It is a great way to ensure you detect any vision issues early enough before it significantly affects your life.

Children’s visual systems are usually in the development stage in the first eight years. At this time, they may need visual aids to help them see better or to assist in normal visual development. So, what are the signs that your child may need glasses?

Why Would Your Child Need Glasses?

According to Johns Hopkins ophthalmologist Megan Collins, a child may need to wear glasses for several reasons. Four primary ones are:

To improve their vision if they have a refractive error.
To strengthen their vision in one eye if they have an amblyopic or weak eye.
If they have misaligned or crossed eyes, glasses can help improve their positions.
If they have poor vision in one eye, eyeglasses can help offer protection.

What Are the Signs Your Child Needs Glasses?

Several signs or symptoms can inform you that your child has vision issues and may need glasses. You can pick up on most of these through observation.

Squinting

One of the easiest ways to know your child needs glasses is if they squint a lot. Squinting is often a symptom of a refractive error. Refractive errors—myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism—affect the ability of the eyes to focus well. Squinting is a natural response to this inability and temporarily allows your child to focus better.

Covering One Eye or Tilting Their Head

Another common sign of vision issues is if they cover one eye or tilt their head. These two actions are used as coping mechanisms to help put something in focus. These two are related to misaligned eyes or lazy eye, also called amblyopia. It is a common disorder in children; through treatment, eye doctors can correct it fully.

Sitting Too Close to the TV

This habit also includes holding a book too close to their face and holding devices close to their face. It means your child is struggling with distance vision. It is a common telltale sign of myopia. The image becomes clearer and big enough to see by bringing the object closer to their eye.

Excessive Eye Rubbing

Eye rubbing occasionally is not an issue, but if your child is constantly rubbing their eyes, it means they have a problem. Excessive eye rubbing is indicative of eyestrain and fatigue. It is a sign of several conditions like allergic conjunctivitis.

Eye Pain or Headaches

Another symptom that your child may need help with their vision is complaining of eye pain and headaches. If your child struggles to focus through the day and exerts a lot of effort to see clearly, they will have these two symptoms. It may result from blurry vision, thus the need to exert more effort to focus.

For more signs that your child needs glasses, visit Perceptions Eye Health & Wellness at our office in Southport, North Carolina. Call (910) 400-1215 to book an appointment today.