Eye Doctor Port Charlotte FL Tips To Know When Your Child Has Eye Problems

Eye examinations conducted by your eye doctor can help identify whether your child has vision problems or not. Problems found at an early stage have better chances of being treated successfully.

However, as a parent, you might want to know at an early stage if your child has eye problems. In this article, we will discuss various warning signs of vision problems in children, including infants.

Warnings Signs Of Vision Problems

For Babies Up To 1 Year Old

Babies at about three months old or up should have the ability to track or follow objects such as a ball or a toy. Their eyes should move as the object is moved across their field of vision. If you think your baby doesn’t make eye contact with an object during this time, you should let the pediatrician know. You can also go to an eye doctor, such as Quigley Eye Specialists. Their site can be found easily online.

Before a baby is four months old, most of them exhibit strabismus-like signs, where the eyes appear to be misaligned. However, after four months, regular outward drifting or inward crossing of the eyes is abnormal. If one of these signs is present, you should inform your doctor about it.

During Preschool Age (3 to 5 Years Old)

Usually, children at this age do not voice complaints regarding their vision. As a parent, you can watch for signs of vision problems, including the following:

Sitting too close to watch the television
Holding a book very close towards the eyes
Squinting
Light sensitivity
Tilting of the child’s head
Short attention span
Turning of an eye either in or out
Avoidance of puzzles, coloring activities, and other detailed tasks
Difficulty with coordinating the eyes, hands, and body, especially when riding bikes or playing ball

If you notice these signs within your preschooler, you can contact your eye doctor and schedule an appointment. In this way, vision problems can be addressed early.

For All Children

For most children, you should notice the signs below for possible vision problems:

Eyes that are hypersensitive to light
Drooping eyelids
Eyes that are watery all the time
Crust or pus with the eye
Redness within the eye that doesn’t come off after a few days
Eye pain
Discomfort as reported by your kid
Itchiness
Eyes that flutter up or down or from side to side
Grayish white color within the pupil
Misaligned eyes (either turned out, crossed, or doesn’t focus simultaneously)

Vision Screening Vs. Vision Examination

Parents should realize the difference between a vision screening and comprehensive eye and vision examination. A vision screening is usually conducted by a pediatrician and is a limited process that cannot diagnose eye or vision problems. However, it might be used as a basis for further evaluation. When a vision screening doesn’t state that a child has issues, there is still a chance that the kid has one.

When a child passes a vision screening, parents usually have a false sense of certainty that their child doesn’t possess eye problems. Typically, preschool vision screenings assess a limited area of vision. It might not evaluate how well the eyes work in conjunction with each other. In addition, it might not check how a child effectively focuses his or her eyes. Color vision, which is essential for color-coded learning resources, isn’t screened as well.

From ages 3 to 5, you and your child should go to an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye and vision examination. This is to ensure that your child’s vision development is healthy. It also helps you rule out eye diseases. If necessary, the ophthalmologist or optometrist can prescribe treatment, including eyeglasses. Vision therapy might be recommended as well.

Fortunately, with advances in technology, children don’t need to know the alphabet to get a comprehensive eye examination. To foster positive experiences with your visit to the eye doctor, you can heed the following tips:

Talk to your child about the eye examination beforehand.
Encourage your kid to ask questions.
Explain the eye exam to your child in terms they can understand.
Compare diagnostic instruments to kaleidoscopes or flashlights.
You can even regard E charts as puzzles for your child to understand it better.

In Conclusion

Knowing the signs of vision problems can help you detect one within your child at an early age. In this way, you have better chances of treating the problem compared to finding it at a later stage. As parents, you want only the best for your children. Caring for your child’s eyes is part of your job. Thus, routinely having them checked with the eye doctor can help you and your child overcome vision problems.