Your child’s vision plays a critical role in their development and learning. This means children with eyesight problems take longer and have a harder time learning new concepts.
In today’s post, Park Slope Eye, your leading provider of dry eye treatment and other eye care services, shares four telltale signs your child may have a vision problem.
1. Shutting One Eye When Watching TV
Amblyopia is a vision disorder that develops when the eyes and the brain have problems working together. This may cause one of the eyes to have a different visual acuity than the other, and can lead to the affected eye pointing toward a different direction. This may confuse your children’s brain, forcing it to ignore those signals coming from the weaker eye. Over time, the affected eye may gradually lose its function, which is why this problem is also known as “lazy eye.” Your pediatric eye doctor explains that people with this condition often shut one of their eyes as a compensatory mechanism.
2. Avoiding Playing Outdoors
If your child avoids playing outdoors, this could be a sign of increased light sensitivity, a symptom of photophobia. They may also refuse having their picture taken, as the flash of the camera can cause nausea and headaches. Another possible reason your child may avoid going outside is nearsightedness, which causes difficulty with distant-range vision, making it hard to play games like tag or catch.
3. Sitting Too Close to the TV
Sitting too close to the TV might be a sign of myopia or nearsightedness. This refractive error causes blurry far-range vision. We may prescribe corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses to manage this condition.
4. Poor Academic Performance
Low marks on your child’s tests may mean they’re having a hard time seeing the notes written on the board. If you notice their grades are starting to slip, consider bringing them to your trusted eye clinic for a comprehensive eye exam.
Schedule an appointment today and learn more signs your kids may have hidden vision problems. We proudly serve families in Brooklyn, NY, and nearby communities.
