Spotting the signs that something is wrong with your child’s eyesight isn’t always easy, especially as it may be difficult to for them to articulate that their vision is impaired.
Short sightedness is also on the rise, with one in five children in the UK now suffering from this eye condition. Mark Shelton, Optometrist at Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists shares the signs to look out for and treatment options available.
“Eyesight is a crucial part of a child’s development and vision problems can have a real knock-on effect on their social, academic and physical development, as well as leading to further issues with their sight. So, it’s important to be aware of the signs that your child may need some extra help and know how to get your children’s eyesight back on track this summer.”
Signs that your child may need glasses
Squinting
“Squinting or rubbing the eyes is a classic sign of visual impairment, as people do this to reduce the amount of light entering the eyes and improve focus, and our children are no different. If you notice your child doing this as they are trying to focus on an object, whether in the distance or up close when reading a book for example, it could be a sign they need glasses.”
Sitting close to screens and reading books
“Does your child often sit very close to the TV or holds a book unusually close to their face? This could indicate vision problems such as myopia, otherwise known as short sightedness. This condition leads to children having difficulty seeing things far away, so they get as close as possible when trying to concentrate on a screen and books, to counteract this. Sometimes children might even purposefully close one eye when trying to read. Over the longer term, this can lead to eye strain and cause vision to deteriorate further over time.”
Having problems at school
“A change in the condition of young eyes can affect other things, too. For example, there might be sudden change in their academic performance at school, they might demonstrate confusion when doing certain activities or show a lack of focus when you’re interacting with them. Additionally, they might be unusually clumsy or struggle with hand-eye co-ordination.”
Complaining of headaches
“Children who struggle to focus their vision can suffer from eye strain which manifests in headaches. While there can be a number of reasons a child complains of a sore head, stay vigilant for headaches which can occur when they have been doing tasks which rely on focusing visually, such as reading a book.”
How to support your child’s eyesight
Reduce screen time
“The summer holiday childcare juggle is challenging for many parents and can result in more screen time. But spending a lot of time looking at digital screens has a real toll on our eyes, as well as increasing the risk of developing myopia. The likelihood of developing this condition is 3.5 times greater when children spend seven hours or more on screens so it’s important to manage daily screen time over the holidays.”
Get outdoors
“Studies show that spending even just a couple of hours a day outside can reduce the likelihood of children developing myopia. It can also stop further deterioration of the eyes. The more natural light helps eyes to develop properly, as well as getting them away from close up activities like screens and reading which are more common indoors.”
Eat a balanced diet
“Getting your child to eat a healthy balanced diet can be challenging, but it’s good to be aware of the foods which contribute to good eye health, such as fruit, vegetables and fish – and incorporate them into your child’s meals where possible.”
Arrange an eye exam
“Overall, should you have any concerns about your child’s vision it’s important to see an optometrist to prevent any further deterioration or wider impact on your child’s health, wellbeing and development.
“Eye examinations are available for free on the NHS for under-16s or anyone aged between 16 and 18 and in full-time education. Trained optometrists will examine overall eye health, as well as vision. The College of Optometrists recommends children have their eyes tested regularly from three-years-old. And for children aged 4 to 5, there may be a vision screening available at their school, but this only checks for some common vision problems.
“If a vision screening is not available in your local area, you can take them to see your local optometrist for a sight test, where a detailed eye examination can pick up vision or eye health problems.”