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Eye problems are capable of having a substantial impact on both the classroom performance and behavior of your child. Many schools perform regular eye exams in an attempt to catch these problems. These exams are often completed by a volunteer, rather than an ocular professional, so issues may not be discovered, especially if the problem isn’t particularly severe. It is crucial to learn the signs that your child needs glasses in order to ensure that you will be able to provide them with the services that they need. Here are a few of the signs that your child needs glasses.
Eye Pain and Frequent Headaches
Eye pain and frequent headaches are a huge sign that your child is having some kind of issue with their eyes. This discomfort often results from the eyes straining or becoming overexerted as the child attempts to see. For example, headaches are often caused by issues of farsightedness. This is because the eyes have to strain in order for the child to focus on things that are located near to them, which tends to cause headaches to arise. Pay attention to your child complaining of headaches or pain around their eyes, as this may mean that your child needs glasses.
Rubbing Eyes
There are many reasons that your child may rub their eyes, so this may not necessarily be cause enough to bring them in for an eye exam. They may have allergies or other problems that cause their eyes to tear up. They may even have specific ocular allergies. However, rubbing the eyes consistently may also be a sign that they eyes are being strained and your child is rubbing them in an attempt to relieve the strain and discomfort in their eyes.
Squinting
If you see your child squinting regularly, it is likely that they have an eye problem. Squinting helps to provide temporary improvement to the vision, because it limits the amount of light that infiltrates into the eye and helps to modify the shape of the eye. Don’t just overlook it if your child squints on a regular basis.
Head Tilting
If your child is regularly tilting their head, it is possible that several different issues are present. For example, one eye might not be working at the same strength as the other eye, which necessitates the head tilt. This gesture can also change the angle at which the object is being viewed, which may help the eyes to focus on a specific object.
Difficulty with Comprehensive Reading
Children that have issues with their eyesight may have difficulty with comprehensive reading. Watch your child as they are reading and have them read aloud to you. If they have eye issues, it is likely that they will use their finger as they read in order to help keep their place. It is common for children with vision problems to frequently lose their place while reading and otherwise having difficulty reading.
Sitting too Close to the Television
Sitting extremely close to the television is often an indication that they are unable to see clearly from further away. If you find that your child is sitting uncomfortably close to the television, it is likely that they are nearsighted and have trouble seeing further away. This same thing applies to holding objects very close to their face, such as tablets or books.
Light Sensitivity
There are many vision issues that can result in light sensitivity. Pay attention to your child’s complaints about areas being too bright. Light sensitivity is generally anything that results in discomfort in reaction to moderate levels of light, such as sunlight or turning the light on in the house.
Changes in Behavior or Academic Performance
Many children are simply unaware that they have an issue with their eyes. It is likely that they have had these issues their entire lives and don’t know the feeling of actually being able to see clearly. When they are unaware of the issues, but their lives are being impacted by the issues, it can be extremely frustrating and overwhelming. They may not understand why they are having difficulty seeing the whiteboard in the classroom or effectively playing sports with their friends. If you notice changes in their behavior or academic performance, it is possible that they are experiencing vision problems.
Failing a School Eye Exam
As was previously mentioned, most schools hold regular eye exams in the early years in an attempt to identify possible vision issues. Though these eye exams aren’t always effective, it is still a sure sign that your child is experiencing eye issues if they fail the eye exam. The school will notify you if they suspect that your child is experiencing vision problems. At this point, you should take the steps to bring your child in to a professional in order to have their vision restored and protected.
Schedule an Eye Exam with Us!
Regular eye exams are another great way to identify issues with your child’s vision. Even if they have eye exams at their school, a professional will be able to identify whether your child would benefit from corrective implements, such as glasses or contacts. It can be particularly beneficial to bring your child in regularly for an eye exam. After these issues have been identified, it is often recommended that you continue to bring them in for eye exams on a yearly basis. This will aid in monitoring changes to the vision and providing the most effective methods for protecting the health of their eyes. Here at Wolcott Optical, we strive to provide you with all of the services that you need to protect your vision and the vision of your children. We offer excellent eye exam services to identify problems, as well as carry a wide selection of tools that can help to correct issues with the vision. To learn more about our services and how to protect the health of your child’s vision, contact our experts at Wolcott Optical today!
