4 Warning Signs to Watch for in Kids with Vision Problems
Vision problems can start very early for many kids. Your child’s school will perform routine eye exams on them to see how their vision is doing, but sometimes this isn’t enough to catch the onset of a vision problem. If you want to prevent your child from having to struggle through life with poor vision and all the problems it can cause, you’ll need to keep a watchful eye on them to make sure they aren’t developing any vision problems.
Here are 4 warnings signs you need to be aware of as a parent of a child with potential vision problems. If you notice any of these, you may want to schedule a pediatric eye exam for your child.
1. Constant Rubbing of the Eyes
Rubbing your eyes is normal if you’ve just woken up, are getting sleepy, or if they itch. But if you see your child rubbing their eyes consistently throughout the day, there’s a good chance it’s because their vision is getting blurry. We typically rub our eyes when we want to clear our vision of some type of fog. If your kid is rubbing their eyes as they try to read or look at something, it could be a sign of worsening vision.
2. Tilting of the Head or Closing One Eye
If your child does either of these things when trying to view stuff, it could be a sign that one eye has better vision than the other. Tilting your head or closing one eye when viewing things is often an attempt to focus the eye with better vision on whatever you’re trying to look at.
3. Excessive Blinking
Similar to rubbing the eyes, blinking is also a reflex for clearing your vision of any kind of blurriness. Allergies or air pollutants can cause this as well, but if your child is blinking all the time everywhere they go but you can’t seem to find the cause of it, this could be a sign of various vision problems.
4. Sitting Too Close to the TV
This applies to everything, whether it’s a tablet in their hand or an actual TV in your house. If your child has to be extremely close up to whatever they are looking at, it’s potentially because they are getting nearsighted. Contrary to popular belief, sitting too close to the TV doesn’t actually make your vision worse, although it can strain your eyes and lead to headaches. It is, however, a potential sign of nearsightedness.
Eye Exams in San Diego
If you live in the San Diego area and you have vision eye insurance, you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule an appointment for your child if they are exhibiting any of the signs above. The most likely culprit of the above symptoms is deteriorating vision, so you’ll want to catch that while you can and get your child the proper eyewear.
Vision problems aren’t always hard to cure, but you can make your child’s life easier by giving them the opportunity to see well so they can keep themselves safe.
