Vision Disorders In Children
- posted: Dec. 09, 2019
From an eye doctor’s perspective, it’s both amazing and a little scary to think of how many children have undiagnosed vision problems that are sight-threatening.
Vision is a critical part of a child’s development and helps them meet milestones. A child should be able to use both eyes together as a team by 6 months old. Otherwise, they could develop a condition called “lazy eye”. Lazy eye is commonly due to strabismus (misalignment of the eyes), a difference in refractive power (prescription), or a combination of the two. Strabismus can be so slight it may not be noticeable by the parent or child, but can jeopardize a child’s sight. Strabismus is an eye disorder that may cause permanently decreased vision and poor depth perception for the rest of the child’s life if not treated in time. Refractive errors (the need for glasses) or small eye turns in children can also lead to permanently reduced vision if left untreated.
Your child’s sight could be at risk even if you don’t notice any symptoms. Some signs of vision disorders are squinting, winking, or head turn. However, you may not notice any of these symptoms because the child may be relying on the “good” eye and they may appear normal. Often the causes of lazy eye can be missed in vision screenings, which is why optometrists recommend a child get their first comprehensive eye exam between 6 months to 1 year old. The optometrist will perform more specialized tests to determine the alignment, prescription of the eyes, and to rule out any ocular health concerns.
To be sure your child does not have an undetectable vision disorder, at Advanced Vision Care and Dry Eye Spa we strongly urge parents to get their children’s eyes examined as soon as possible, at age 3 or younger. The next eye exam* is recommended before a child starts school, around 4-5 years old, to ensure they have all the visual tools they will need. Once in school, an eye exam is recommended every other year. This way, the child is examined at key stages of development based on the changing demands they will have with age and schoolwork. We hope to see you and your children soon!