Parents are often reluctant to address potential vision impairment in regards to their children due to the often negative thoughts on the subject. However when a child shows warning signs that their vision may need to be evaluated by a professional, the sooner the diagnosis by said professional the better. Aapos.org states that within the first five to six years of a child’s life their vision steadily grows just like with any other human organ.
According to VSP.com more than 20% of the 40 million school-age children in the United States suffer from vision problems and are in need of corrective lenses. That 20% averages out to being one out of every five children, which in those terms makes the problem more common than most parents realize. While teachers and health care professionals are often the most qualified resource in noticing a child struggling from the symptoms of vision problems, parents are the most valuable source because they are constantly with their child every day. Many parents don’t realize their child may be in need of professional help from an eye doctor unless the parent themselves have suffered from or know the warning signs of such issues. That increases the importance of being able to recognize the symptoms and having a child diagnosed immediately to avoid further eye problems.
Parents should be on the lookout for any type of behavior that is not normal for their particular child. A child having a loss of concentration especially where reading is concerned is an early red flag many adults tend to overlook because the behavior could mean any number of things. Another symptom of potential vision impairment includes an increase in headaches especially around the eyes and temples, however, unless a child is asked they may not verbalize their distress. Rubbing, squinting, or tiring of the eyes is one of the most common signs a child is struggling to see. Others include moving closer to things, falling behind in schoolwork, or being less attentive especially in classroom activities.
While most vision problems are easily remedied like near or far-sightedness or astigmatism and many are considered borderline in need of glasses unless the child indeed shows symptoms of needing further corrective help, staying informed about the warnings signs is the best overall defense in guarding a child’s sight. Struggling with one of nature’s important senses can affect a person’s overall attitude, behavior and learning capability. The sooner a vision issue is addressed and corrected the happier and healthier a child can grow as a whole.
