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 Last week we talked about some of the most common conditions affecting children of preschool age. This week we are going to outline some of the signs that parents and teachers can look for that may indicate an undiagnosed vision problem.

If a vision problem is suspected, we recommend a comprehensive examination with a residency-trained pediatric optometrist.

Young children with vision issues rarely complain.  This is due to the fact that the body makes adaptations to minimize the effects of a vision problem and many kids assume that everyone's eyes work the same way.  We have had patients that see double and assume that is how it should be, others think that words moving on the page is the norm.

Below are listed some of the signs that a vision problem is present:

• Sitting too close to the TV
• Holding a book too close (7-8 inches)
• Squinting one or both eyes
• Frequently rubbing their eyes
• Eye turning inward or outward
• Covering or closing one eye
• Turning their head to one side
• Tilting their head consistently to one side
• Light sensitivity
• Difficulty with eye-hand coordination
• Avoidance of near activities (coloring, puzzles, etc)
• Lack of eye contact
• Headaches following near activities
• Poor coordination during play

A residency-trained pediatric optometrist is able to determine if the above behaviors are related to a vision problem and then develop a treatment plan for your child.  For many vision conditions in young children, early intervention is a key to success.  Through the use of glasses and/or vision therapy, an optometrist can fix the problem before it affects school performance. 

A comprehensive eye examination with a residency-trained pediatric optometrist is recommended for every child at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years of age.