Your eyesight is one of the most importants senses you have – healthy eyes are a child’s most significant assets as they allow them to learn, process, absorb and experience. Weak eyesight can lead to troublesome health complications. That is why most schools follow visual learning practices and activities. That is where your child might face trouble if they are suffering from weak vision. Weak eyesight can prevent your child from performing regular tasks.
Having perfect vision is not only necessary for classroom activities, but it is equally essential for extracurricular activities as well. Identifying weak vision in children is complicated as they cannot describe the condition as accurately as an adult. However, you can get clues of weak sight from the activities your child is participating in.
1. Reading
Daily practices allow you to learn about the vision problems in your child – such as reading. You should use it to observe if your child keeps losing place while reading out or puts a finger to track lines on the page. These are subtle clues that may indicate weak eyesight. Additionally, you should never mistake these practices with learning inability and consult with an optometrist immediately.
2. No Use of Computer
Not to mention, children don’t mind spending hours in front of the computer playing their favorite games. Despite that, if they stop using a computer because it causes discomfort to their eyes – it is a matter of concern.
3. Sports
Many sports games require specific visual skills; effective hand-eye coordination, good depth perception, or a wide field of vision. An eye examination may be needed if a child is unable to follow any of these when participating in sports.
4. Watching TV
You may think sitting too close to TV can damage the eyesight of your child. However, it has found the opposite in various cases. This practice may be a symptom of weak vision as sitting close to TV will prevent blurring of the screen. Moreover, you should observe if a child is tilting their head or watching the TV with one eye closed or not. These signs could indicate underlying eyesight issues.
Warning Signs
Taking note of some of the warning signs may be helpful in this context. Staying aware of the symptoms is also necessary to treat weak sight of a child and to avoid further vision damage. These signs may indicate weak eyesight:
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Sensitivity to the light
- Excessive tearing
- Redness in the eye
- Constant headaches
- A sudden decline in grades
Causes of Weak Vision in Children
Eye specialists suggest that a nutritious diet promotes the health of organs including the eyes. Not consuming nutrient-dense foods may result in weak eyesight in children and adults alike. Moreover, in most cases weak vision is genetic. Several studies have also discussed that children with a family history are more prone to weak eyesight.
Bottom Line
You can prevent vision problems in children via scheduling extensive eye testing. This examination will allow you to take precautions beforehand. You should begin with infants and continue this practice to steer clear of eye disorders.
