How can I tell if my child might have or be developing an eye condition?
Your child should have regular eye exams throughout their childhood however it's still a good idea to look for signs they make be experiencing problems with their sight. It may just be that they need glasses or a new prescription; however, it could also be a sign of something more serious. Indications of a possible visual impairment can include:
Baby
- excessively watery eyes or rubbing them more than usual
- eyes that wobble or are constantly in motion
- eyes that are always looking in two different directions
- dull or cloudy eyes
- white pupils (the pupil, the small circle in the centre of each eye, is normally black)
- failing to make eye contact or failing to respond to silent smiles from a parent or carer
Toddler/Small Child
- walking into things, e.g., doorframes, coffee tables
- poor hand-eye co-ordination, difficulty throwing, catching and kicking, tripping or unsteady
- not recognising their parent or carers face from across the room
- sitting close to things they wish to see e.g., television, books etc
- frowning or peering at books and when drawing/scribbling etc
- eyes that are always looking in two different directions - also known as a squint
- white pupils
Education
- reluctant to play games and join in activities
- short attention span, withdrawn, slow development
- complains of difficulty seeing in the dark or dim lighting
- complains of extreme intolerance when in bright light
- blinking excessively, experiencing dizziness or headaches
- holding work such as writing/drawing very close or bending over work
- writing in excessively large letters and not on the line, using a finger to keep the place on the page
- has unusual fatigue after a visual task, possibly complains that work sheets are too small, too faint
- complains they cannot see the classroom Board or television
Further information including a full list of things to look for can be found on the Guide Dogs Family support webpage and the NHS Eye tests for children webpages.
