Signs Your Toddler Might Need Spectacles

When it comes to a child’s vision, it often goes undetected, especially in toddlers who are unable to express their difficulties. The visual system in a toddler continues to develop throughout their early years. Unlike young children, toddlers are unable to explain things even if things look blurry or they experience any discomfort.

Hence, it is necessary for parents or care givers to recognise the subtle signs that could indicate vision impairment in their toddler and that they probably need glasses. This is because early intervention by a skilled pediatric eye doctor can improve your child’s vision problems to a great extent, allowing them to enjoy the highest quality of life.

How to Know If Your Child Needs Glasses?

Here are some of a few signs that it’s time to schedule an examination with a pediatric eye doctor to understand if your toddler has vision issues.

1. Squinting 

Is your child partially closing their eyes to see objects clearly? If your child frequently squints their eyes to focus and see the TV or in the classroom, it is a sign that they might be having refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Squinting is one of the ways toddlers try to sharpen blurred images.

2. Holding objects too closely 

Children with vision problems often hold their books or toys too closely. You will also find them sitting close to the TV. Being in close proximity to an object at times is normal; however, if it is consistent, it often indicates that your child is suffering from myopia.

3. Frequent headaches

Have you noticed your toddler often holding their head, especially after reading or doing their homework? They might not be able to say “headaches”, but these behaviours indicate eye strain, meaning that the eye muscles need to work hard to focus on objects.

4. Eye rubbing 

Occasional eye rubbing is normal and indicates a sign of tiredness. However, if your toddler constantly rubs their eyes, it is a sign of discomfort, possibly due to vision issues or eye strain.

5. Watery eyes or redness

Eye redness or irritation without any exact cause is a clear sign of eye fatigue and vision issues. They might also mean an eye infection. Hence, it is better to consult a pediatric eye doctor for proper diagnosis.

6. Closing one eye 

If your child tries to close one eye while looking for things, it is indicative of a refractive error or, more specifically, amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes), both of which require medical attention.

7. Poor concentration 

If your child constantly loses their attention in tasks that involve seeing, like reading a book or playing puzzles, it can signify that they are struggling to see objects.

How Often Should a Toddler Get Their Eyes Checked?

The American Optometric Association (AOA) suggests that parents must schedule an appointment with a pediatric eye doctor to get their child’s vision checked every year, beginning from 6 months of age if there are no obvious signs.

However, if you notice these above signs, make sure to consult a specialist as soon as possible for early detection.

Conclusion 

Many a time, parents are unable to realise that their toddlers are having vision issues. However, they show behaviours that speak volumes. Hence, make sure to notice those signs and visit a specialist to provide your child with spectacles if required.