Signs Your Child May Need Glasses
Are you wondering whether your child needs glasses? It can be challenging to determine whether children needs glasses, because often kids can’t recognize that they’re having vision problems. After all, it’s hard to know you need glasses when you’re used to the world being a little blurry! We're on a mission to simplify eye care. So, our Visionworks experts review the top signs your child may need glasses and the next steps to take. We also look at what causes children’s vision to change and ways to promote good eye health practices starting at a young age.
What Causes a Child to Need Glasses?
Both genetics and health habits play essential roles in vision quality—and affect whether your child needs glasses. For example, if both a child’s parents are nearsighted, their kids are much more likely to be nearsighted. Additionally, poor health habits can affect a child’s vision. For example, reading in inadequate lighting conditions or spending too much time in front of screens can strain a child’s developing eyes, potentially leading to changes in vision. Additionally, a nutrient-deficient diet can adversely affect vision and eye health.
While you can’t control genetics, you can take preventive measures to ensure good eye health and safeguard your child’s vision. To start, talk to your kids about screen time and digital eye strain. Then, create a plan to balance screen time with outdoor activities, always taking breaks to ensure the eyes don’t get strained. For example, you can follow the Harmon distance rule: keep devices and books at arm's length. To avoid digital eye strain, kids and their parents should make a habit of following the 20-20-20 rule: take 20-second vision breaks every 20 minutes to look 20 feet into the distance. Additionally, try incorporating the best foods for eye health into your child’s diet. Finally, take the time to add annual eye exams to your back-to-school eye care checklist. The start of the school year is the perfect time to check your child’s vision to help ensure academic success.
5 Signs Your Child May Need Glasses
Most likely, your kids won’t be able to communicate their changes in vision. So, it is up to you to look for signs that your child may need glasses. Here are the top 5 signs to watch for:
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Squinting or Head Tilting
Kids tend to squint when they have trouble focusing, which can be indicative of either nearsightedness or farsightedness. Additionally, children who tilt their heads to get a good look at something may be compensating for a lazy eye. While these may be signs of vision changes, they might also point to other eye health issues, like dry eyes.
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Headaches or Eye Pain
If your child is straining to see the board in school, headaches or eye pain can be the result. Take note of how frequently your child complains of headaches and track when they occur. Headaches are a telltale sign that kids need glasses.
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Difficulty in School
Children may have difficulty in school for many reasons. However, poor vision can result in a decrease in academic performance and a lack of interest in classes. Inability to see the board or read textbooks can easily lead to struggling to keep up with the rest of the class. Back-to-school eye exams are important because they identify vision changes early, helping your kids stay on track with their studies. If you are concerned about your child’s academics and think vision changes might be the cause of poor performance, schedule a parent-teacher conference to discuss this. And if your child hasn’t had an eye exam recently, it’s important to get input from an eye doctor and if needed, nip vision problems in the bud.
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Sitting Close to Screens
When kids can’t see clearly, they tend to move closer to what they’re trying to focus on. For example, children experiencing vision changes may start sitting closer to the TV or holding books very near their faces. Take note if your child starts to reposition things around them, because it may be a sign they’re struggling to see.
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Rubbing Eyes Excessively
Excessive eye rubbing is an often-overlooked sign that your child needs glasses. When eyes are strained, they typically start to feel dry or itchy. Eye rubbing helps stimulate tear production, providing some quick relief to dry eyes and itchiness. You may mistake eye rubbing as a sign that your child is tired, but it’s possible they are having trouble seeing.
The Next Steps to Take If You Think Your Child Needs Glasses
If you think your child may need glasses, what should you do next? The next step is to schedule an annual eye exam with your eye doctor. Yearly eye exams are the best way to monitor vision changes, check eye health and get vision correction if needed. Include eye doctor visits as part of your back-to-school routine, ensuring your child’s vision is crystal clear for the new school year.
The Best Glasses for Your Child
If your child needs glasses, we have you covered—with the coolest frames in town. We at Visionworks can help your kids get excited about having a new look as well as clear vision. Here are some of our favorites:
Bold Cat-eye Frames
These fun and functional teal cat-eye frames offer spring hinges for a comfortable fit and bold style to have your child loving their new back-to-school look.
Sporty Neon Frames
These sporty black and neon frames stand out on the field and give your kid the crystal-clear vision needed to score the winning goal.
Classic Ray-Ban Frames
These classic Ray-Bans are perfect for any occasion, transitioning seamlessly from the classroom to the band performance to after-school playtime.
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
