Every child relies on vision to navigate, learn, and understand the world around them. They use vision to tell the differences between situations, things, and people. It is their foremost learning tool, as about 80 percent of everything they learn is achieved visually. So, if your child has visual issues, they will show signs of struggling.

Sight is essential for children, especially in their social and school life. They need to see well to engage in play with other children. If they cannot see, playing becomes difficult or lead to difficulty recognizing their friends. At school, they need a good vision to see what the teacher writes on the board. Poor vision usually leads to poor school performance.
 

Four Signs Your Child Needs an Optometrist

Changes in Behavior

Behavioral changes are usually the first signs that something is affecting your child. Parents always need to observe their child’s behavior. You will notice specific new behaviors if they have a visual problem. Here are some of the common behavioral changes if your child has an issue with vision:

·      Squinting

One typical behavior of children with visual problems is frequent squinting when trying to see something in the distance. Squinting is a natural coping mechanism when trying to see something too far. If you notice your child squinting to see the TV or the board in class, they may have a visual problem.

·      Eye Rubbing

Another typical behavior that develops with some visual problems is frequent eye rubbing. Eye rubbing is common in everyone, but if it is too frequent, there is an underlying cause. If your child rubs their eyes often when trying to focus on a near object, they may have a visual issue. 

·      Sitting Close to the TV

Seeing your child slowly moving closer to the TV as they grow older may be a sign of a visual problem. They may have become too tired of squinting all the time to see clearly and now prefer to move closer. 
 

Headaches

Another sign that your child may need to see an optometrist is if they complain of headaches constantly. Some visual problems cause a lot of stress on the optical system. The visual system is connected to the brain, meaning compounded stress may manifest as a headache. 

For instance, children with astigmatism or hyperopia will often develop headaches when trying to do near-vision work. They will complain of headaches after reading for some time or using the computer or doing their homework.
 

Poor Coordination or Clumsiness

Another common sign of visual problems in a child is when they have poor body coordination or are very clumsy. You may have had reports from teachers that your child keeps bumping and tripping over obvious things. While it may be a problem with coordination, it could also be a visual issue.
 

Eye Trauma

If your child has experienced any recent eye trauma, they may be in danger of visual issues. Some eye trauma takes time to present any aggravated symptoms. You must take your child to the eye doctor if they have had any eye trauma.
 

For more signs your child needs an optometrist, visit NewView Family Eyecare at our office in Waterloo, Iowa. Call (319) 236-2020​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ to book an appointment today.