3 Common Children's Vision Problems You Might Not Recognize
Did you know it has been estimated that nearly 80% of the learning a child does occurs through their eyes? If your child is struggling in school, the problem might be that they are having trouble seeing the problems and questions in front of them. Nearly 1 in 4 children experience vision problems, but since children often grow used to the way they see the world, they might not realize there is a problem and won't speak up about it. As a parent, it is important for you to catch potential problems with your child's vision. Three common children's vision problems and some ways to catch them are listed below.
1. Amblyopia
Amblyopia, also known as a lazy eye, occurs when one eye is weaker than the other and does not see as well as the other. Signs of amblyopia in children include the appearance of an eye wandering or crossing or an eyelid drooping. Amblyopia is common in preschool-age children, and can often be corrected with glasses meant to strengthen the weaker eye, or by covering the stronger eye with a patch, causing the weaker eye to do more work.
2. Nearsightedness & Farsightedness
Nearsightedness (also known as myopia) and farsightedness (presbyopia) are very common vision problems. If you notice your child has difficulty seeing the blackboard, they might be nearsighted, and if they struggle to read text up close, farsightedness might be the culprit. Glasses and contact lenses can easily treat these conditions, and school and everyday activities will likely become much easier and more pleasant for your child with the simple addition of these vision aids.
3. Astigmatism
Unlike other vision problems, astigmatism occurs because there is a problem with the way the eye focuses light, rather than there being an abnormality with the eye itself. Astigmatism is fairly common and often occurs early in a child's life. Because of this, it is important to get your child's eyes tested to check for it, especially if they frequently complain of headaches or their eyes aching after reading.
Sometimes, it is not easily apparent that a child is suffering from a vision problem. If you or your child's teacher has noticed that they are currently struggling in school, are experiencing frequent headaches, or are adjusting the position of their head or squinting when asked to read, consider having their eyes examined. Whether their vision problem is mild or severe, your child's academic and extracurricular life can vastly improve, simply from getting them the proper eye wear.
For professional eye care, contact a company such as EyeCare About Vegas: Dr. R Dougal Morrison & Dr. Christopher Coker.