 | August is Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month, and in this article, we’re looking at signs of possible eye problems in children, as well as conditions that could lead to eye problems for your child. This information will give you a better awareness of your child’s eye health and when it’s time to call your child’s primary care physician / pediatrician and / or eye doctor. |
The following is a list of signs of possible eye problems in children, which we’ve grouped into categories for ease of identification:
- Eye / Eyelid Appearance:
- Eyes are not aligned – pointed in (crossed), out, up, or down
- Eyes are watery or red or have excess mucus or pus
- Eyes are cloudy / opaque
- Eye does not move or is pushed forward
- Eyelids are red, crusted, or swollen (or swollen shut)
- Eyelids are droopy
- Eyelids have a small, red, or swollen bump on the lid itself or near the eyelashes
- Child’s Behavior:
- Rubs eyes a lot
- Squints
- Strains to see
- Closes or covers one eye
- Turns / tilts head or thrusts it forward struggling to see
- Trouble (frustrated easily with) reading and doing / performing other close up activities or tasks
- Holds objects close to see
- Cannot make out objects or faces in the distance
- Difficulty with depth perception, such as eating with a utensil or pouring a glass of water
- Child’s Reports / Complaints:
- Itchy eyes
- Burning eyes
- Scratchy eyes
- Watering / teary eyes (when not crying)
- Something in eye
- Can’t see well / can’s see the TV
- Blurry
- See double
- Feel dizzy / sick or have a headache, particularly have doing close-up work
Any of these can be signs of a serious eye condition, such as amblyopia, strabismus, refractive errors, cataract, conjunctivitis (pink eye), chalazion, stye, cellulitis, and blocked tear duct. (Read our previous article, Common Diseases & Conditions that Can Affect Your Child’s Vision, to learn more about each of these.) Have your child’s eyes checked if you notice any signs or changes in your child’s eyes, eyelids, or vision. The sooner an eye problem is detected, evaluated, and treated, the better the prognosis or possible outcome.
Other Considerations for Children's Eye Health
In addition to these symptoms, you should be aware of your child’s eye health if any of the following are or have been present in his or her life:
- Fever
- Upper respiratory infection
- Sinus infection
- Other infection, such as staph or strep
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye) in classmates
- Trauma (eye injury)
- Diabetes (Type 1 or 2)
- Family history of childhood vision problems
Those are the signs and factors to be aware of to protect your child’s eye health and vision. If you have any questions about your child’s eyes or vision, we encourage you to contact your primary care physician / pediatrician, as well as our office. Our optometrists specialize in children's eye examinations and general eye health. They are here to get your child the help he or she needs, as well as answer any questions you may have.
In the upcoming Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month articles, we’ll look at guidelines for having your child’s eyes checked and and protecting your child’s eyes from both the sun and injury.
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