Guest Post: How to Tell If Your Child Needs Glasses

How to Tell If Your Child Needs Glasses

 
A large number of children need glasses at an early age, but their vision problems will most likely go undiagnosed for a long time. Most kids do not like the look and feel of glasses, so they are going to be reluctant to tell you if they are having vision problems. Luckily, there are several signs to look for to help determine if your child is having troubles with their vision. While there are several behavior signs of vision problems, these are the five most likely to tell you if your child needs glasses.

Squinting

Squinting is probably the most common behavioral symptom of a child that is having vision problems. If you child is having vision problems, then they are most likely seeing a lot of blurry images. Squinting reduces the amount of area that the eyes have to focus on, so it makes it easier for them to see. This is why most kids that need glasses will be seen squinting for extended periods of time. Occasional squinting does not mean your child needs glasses, but it can help you notice a serious problem if it is occurring often.

Covering of One Eye

It is very common for people to have good vision in one eye but deteriorating vision in the other eye. The poor eye is going to cause vision problems, so the children will just cover the eye that does not see properly. This allows them to be able to see without any problems. Unlike squinting, most children will not display this behavior unless they have a vision problem. If you see your child repeatedly covering the same eye, then it is a good idea to take them to the eye doctor.

Head Tilting

If you kid is constantly tilting their head, then this can be a sign of a serious eye problem. Most children that show this behavior are suffering from double vision. Double vision is caused by problems with muscles in the eye. Head tilting takes pressure off of the bad muscles, and helps clear up the double vision. Head tilting is not a normal behavior of most children, so you be able to easily spot the problem.

Reading Too Close

If your child is holding the book very close to their eyes while they are reading or sitting very close to the television, then they may be experiencing nearsightedness. Nearsighted people have no problem seeing clearly when they are close to an object, but their vision gets blurry as they move away. Children choose to deal with this problem by getting very close to what they are trying to see.

Rubbing Eyes

While a child rubs their eyes, this means that their eyes are fatigued. This can be caused by the child being tired and in need of sleep, but it can also be a symptom of vision problems. If your child is constantly rubbing their eyes when they should not be tired, then it may be best to get their vision tested. Rubbing eyes will usually be accompanied by other symptoms, so the vision problem should be easy to detect.

Most of these behaviors are not done by most children, so they should be easy to spot. If you notice your child exhibiting several of these symptoms, then you should take them to get their eyes check. Vision problems can cause serious problems for the child in school, so it always best to be cautious when dealing with the eyes.

Author Sara Roberts has a background in health and technical writing, and is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, an online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses.