10 Signs Your Child Needs an Eye Exam

Your eyes rarely shout, they whisper

Vision changes usually happen so gradually that you adapt without noticing. Here are the ten signs we hear about most often, often after patients have lived with them for months.

The ten signs

• Squinting- The classic sign your eyes are straining to focus.
• Frequent headaches- Especially after reading or screen time.
• Blurry or fluctuating vision- At any distance, even occasionally.
• Trouble with sports- Surprisingly many athletes are unaware of poor vision and how improved vison can positively affect their performance.
• Parents or grandparents have bad vision- Many parents are unaware of the inheritance of poor vision. Really high corrections are passed down to children and in some cases cause irreversible problems such as pathological myopia or amblyopia. Early treatment can save the sight of the child.
• Double vision- Even brief episodes should be checked promptly.
• Kids sitting too close to screens- Or even holding books very near their face.
• Falling grades or struggling to learn- Often a vision issue, not a behavior issue. These children might not be able to see the learning material at far or near and this is why they tend to stray away from learning environments.
• Covering one eye or tilting the head- A child's way of working around a focusing problem.
• It's been more than a year- Children should have a comprehensive eye exam every year until they are the age of 18. Many eye diseases are silent; the exam is the only way to know. We have caught retinal detachments and increased brain pressure in kids as young as 17 years old.

Signs that mean come in right away

Sudden vision loss, a shower of new floaters, flashes of light, a curtain over your vision, eye pain, or a chemical injury are all same-day emergencies. Call us and don't wait for a routine slot. We see medical visits in our office as well. Medical visits are not covered by most vision plans and would be out of pocket.

The bottom line

An exam is quick, comfortable, and detailed  and it's the only way to know whether those whispers are harmless or the start of something that needs treatment. If anything on this list sounds familiar, that's your answer. We see children as young as 7 years of age in our office.