Children are known to be very sharp and observant when it comes to their surroundings. If there’s one thing they’re not very proficient with yet is explaining their own health issues. A good example is when a child is experiencing vision problems, and this is especially true when they’re very young. It’s not always easy to understand their needs or their way of communicating things to you. This is why it’s important to ask them if they’re experiencing any trouble with their eyesight if you suspect that they are. In this guide, we talk about some of the signs that your child may need an eye test.
1. Becoming Fatigues After Reading
This is a very common issue among children, especially if they have to read a lot as part of their homework. If your child experiences a lot of fatigue after reading, then it may be a sign that they have a hard time focusing when reading. This is because they have a visual processing problem.
Visual processing problems usually happen when the brain has a hard time interpreting the image the eye receives. Some visual processing problems will go away when your child grows older, but others may require the need of an eye exam.
2. They Don’t Respond to Distant Objects
If you notice that your child becomes more and more irritated when it comes to focusing on distant objects, then this may be a sign that they’re suffering from nearsightedness. Have your child stand at arm’s length from you and have them focus on your nose or your elbow. If they start to squint and then look away, this is a sign that they may be nearsighted.
3. Difficulty Playing Sports
Many children have a hard time with sports, but if your child has a hard time even with simple things such as throwing a ball and catching it, then it’s possible that they have an eye problem. This may cause them to not catch the ball properly and may land them serious injury if they don’t wear the right kind of eyeglasses.
4. Squinting or Closing One Eye
This is a very common way for children to avoid seeing things that are hard for them to see. It is a good sign that your child may have vision difficulties, especially when they become good at it. It is also a good sign that you should start to ask them if they’re experiencing any trouble with their eyesight. The thing is that they’re not aware of their problems, and they may not even know how to express what they’re experiencing because they’re only young.
5. Sitting Too Close to the TV
If your child is sitting too close to the TV, and this is a habit that has been formed for years, then it’s likely that there’s something wrong with their eyesight. This is because when your child sits too close to the TV, it makes their eyes work harder to bring the image on the screen to life. This is the same if you make your child sit too close to the computer.
Conclusion
All in all, there are a lot of ways for you to know if your child is experiencing difficulty with their vision. You do not need to be an expert in the field to be able to see the signs. As a parent, it’s also important to ask your child about the way they see things or how they feel about these things. This is a very good way for you to know what’s going on with them, especially when it comes to their eyes.
If you think your child is experiencing any of these signs, it’s time to bring them to a specialist. Optiko Eyewear is the go-to optical in Calgary for reliable eye exams and affordable frame and lens packages. Our eye specialists can help identify the issue and recommend a treatment that is best for your child’s needs. Schedule an eye exam in Calgary today.
