{"id":19845,"date":"2021-11-03T10:41:16","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T10:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=19845"},"modified":"2021-11-03T10:41:16","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T10:41:16","slug":"7-signs-your-child-needs-glasses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/pediatric-eye-exams-2\/7-signs-your-child-needs-glasses\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Signs Your Child Needs Glasses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wondering if your child needs glasses?\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

Here are 7 signs to look out for.<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

Good eyesight is essential for all aspects of life, reading, writing, playing, walking, driving, among many other routine tasks and activities.<\/p>\n

All children need clear and comfortable vision to meet the demands of school and enjoy the highest quality of life.<\/b><\/p>\n

Here are 7 signs that it\u2019s time to schedule an eye exam<\/a> with your eye doctor.<\/p>\n

1. Squinting\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Have you noticed your child squinting their eyes to see an object or image in the distance?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

If your child squints their eyes to see the TV or the board in the classroom, they may need glasses for refractive errors called myopia<\/a> or astigmatism<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Squinting helps your child achieve clearer, sharper vision as it limits the amount of light that enters the eyes and focuses incoming light directly onto the center of the retina.<\/p>\n

2. Headaches\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Does your child complain of frequent headaches?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Children with farsightedness<\/a> or astigmatism are very susceptible to headaches, especially after completing near vision tasks such as reading, homework, or computer work.<\/p>\n

Headaches typically occur when the child\u2019s eye muscles have to work extra hard to focus on the images in front of them.<\/p>\n

3. Frequent eye rubbing<\/b><\/h2>\n

Does your child rub their eyes, especially while doing homework or studying at night?<\/i><\/p>\n

Eye rubbing is a universal sign for tiredness, but if your child rubs their eyes while reading or focusing on a near image, they may have a vision problem.<\/p>\n

Rubbing the eyes is a common practice among children who don\u2019t have the verbal skills to communicate a problem with their vision, and instead try to rub the blurry vision away.<\/p>\n

4. Sitting close to TV or screen<\/b><\/h2>\n

Does your child sit close to the TV screen or hold their phone or book right in front of their eyes?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Being in close proximity to an object or image eliminates the need to squint in order to see clearly, especially when myopia is at the root of the problem.<\/p>\n

If your child is exhibiting any of these 7 signs, schedule an eye exam with an optometrist near you.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED: <\/b>Eye Exams for Children<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t
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