Most parents feel we have a good handle on our children’s health. We keep an eye on our kids’ daily routines, make sure they eat their fruits and veggies, keep them home when they have a fever…all of the normal stuff. But most of our information comes from watching what they do or asking questions. What happens if they don’t know the answer?
The truth is, your child could have impaired vision and have no idea. It’s common for children to have undiagnosed vision problems because they don’t know enough to speak up when something isn’t quite right. If they have had impaired vision since birth, they would have no frame of reference to know what “normal” is. Even if their vision deteriorated over time, they have a shorter timespan for comparison.
As parents, this means we can’t just ask our children if their vision is ok. We have to get them a comprehensive eye exam to be certain. And it needs to be done annually, to account for the rapid changes your child may be going through as they grow and mature all the way through adolescence.
There is some good news, though! Even though you may not be able to ask your kids about their vision, you can look for some clues that something is amiss. The team at Think About Your Eyes has put together this list of potential signs that your child may have a vision problem.
- They hold books or devices close to their eyes.
- They have gotten more clumsy or prone to injury lately.
- They have to ask you to explain “what’s going on” more often.
- They lose interest in school suddenly.
- They have a shorter attention span than usual.
- They complain of frequent headaches.
- They stop following the rules of the house.
- They are scared of playing sports or getting hit by the ball.
- They have trouble dealing with social or emotional situations.
Need a reminder of these signs or symptoms? Keep this infographic handy for reference.
Could it be time for your next family trip to the eye doctor soon? When you’re ready to book your next eye exam, visit our doctor locator to find an eye doctor near you!
Bonus: Kids’ Vision Virtual Reality Activity
Ever wonder what being in school is like if you have a vision impairment? Check out this virtual reality demo that sheds some light on how difficult learning can be.