5 Telltale Signs Your Child May Need Vision Correction

When we think about people who need glasses, our minds usually go to older individuals. Most people know that having trouble seeing is a common side effect of aging. 

But some people’s eyes need a little help a lot earlier in life. In fact, roughly one-third of American kids ages 6 to 17 need glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. And when a child or teen needs vision correction, setting them up with glasses or contacts can go a long way toward helping them succeed.

That’s why we offer pediatric eye care at our New York City Benjamin Optical offices. Our team can help you determine if your son or daughter needs glasses or contact lenses. If they do, we can set them up with the right pair. 

But how do you know it’s time to get your child’s or teen’s eyes checked? Here are a few signs that could mean they need vision correction.

Squinting

When we squint, we can temporarily change the way light refracts in our eyes. Squinting to see something far away or up close might be your child’s way of trying to correct their vision on their own. 

Pay attention to your child’s behaviors when they’re trying to see something at a distance or right under their nose. Squinting or head-tilting can indicate they’re not seeing as clearly as they could be. 

Headaches

Straining to see tires out your eyes over time. If your teen or child complains of headaches at the end of the day or you notice them rubbing their eyes, the cause could be their blurry vision. 

Challenges with reading

If your child has farsightedness, seeing things at a distance isn’t a problem for them — but seeing things up close is. That can make reading extremely difficult. Many children hold a book abnormally far from or close to their faces when reading to try to overcome farsightedness. 

Sitting close

If you notice that your child or teen often sits right in front of the TV or chooses a seat in the front of the class even though they’re shy, it could be their way of overcoming difficulty seeing far away (i.e., nearsightedness). 

Trouble at school 

Learning can be harder when you can’t see well, especially for visual learners. If your child is nearsighted, difficulties grasping concepts at school could stem from their inability to clearly see the teacher’s explanations on the board or screen. Similarly, if they’re farsighted, they might have trouble learning from the textbooks at school. 

If you notice any of these signs, don’t hesitate to bring your child to Benjamin Optical. Here, our team can evaluate their eyes and give them the vision correction they need to see clearly. Call any of our offices for an appointment or book one online today.