school, and that’s why routine eye tests are so important. Vision changes in children can occur without notice, and they may not even be aware of it. But if you find that your child tries to avoid reading or has a short attention span, these may be signs that your child may have vision issues.
If you suspect that your child may have a vision problem then you need to be vigilant. Take special note if your child:
- Sits very close to the TV and hold things up very close in order to see them. If they have to hold things up to their face to see them clearly, then it’s possible that they may have blurry vision, and are unable to see objects at a distance.
- Avoids reading. If a child does not want to read, it may be an indication that they are having trouble seeing the words on the pages.
- Has chronic redness or watering of the eyes, or rubs their eyes a lot. These are all signs that there may be an underlying vision problem.
- Is unable to follow an object with his eyes (visual tracking).
If you notice that your child has one or several of these problems then these are signs that your child may have vision issues. You should therefore contact your opthalmologist and have their eyes checked immediately. Early intervention will ensure that the necessary corrective action is taken, so that the condition does not become permanent.
Dr. Michael Loeffler of the Center for Ophthalmology and Laser Surgery, caters to patients in the greater Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton areas. Contact his office if your child needs testing.