Does your child need glasses? Watch out for these 10 signs!
By Essilor Canada
Proper vision contributes as much to a child's health as it does to their academic and social development. But how do you know if they are experiencing problems? Little ones might not notice or might not even be able to express their concerns. Sometimes, they are also so accustomed to seeing badly that they believe their vision is completely normal. It is a problem that is difficult to detect. To clearly view the problem, look out for these 10 indicators.
The 10 indicators
Your child ...
1. often complains of head aches and migraines, especially at the end of the day
2. blinks, rubs his eyes and frowns, especially when they are concentrating
3. squints and frequently comes closer to what he wants to see. For example, at school, they will ask to sit as close to the blackboard as possible or will sit much too close to the TV
4. isn't attentive for a long period of time: especially when he loses his place while reading, or again, if he has to read the same sentence twice
5. doesn't retain much of what he has just read
6. mixes up certain letters
7. is sensitive to light and his eyes water a lot
8. is uncomfortable if one eye is covered, but doesn't react when the other one is covered
9. bumps into things frequently and has difficulty orienting himself
10. fatigues easily and quickly gives up upon activities once he has begun
Be on the lookout
Myopia, astigmatism, hyperopia, strabismus ... These are the vision disorders that are often found in children. Currently, 1 in 4 children of school age suffers from a visual problem. As a result, it is recommended that all children have an eye exam by the age of 6 months, at 3 years of age, prior to entering school and then every year from 6 to 23 years.
Starting to feel worried? Rest assured. To begin with, these signs don't necessarily indicate a vision problem and, if it is the case, know that most problems are benign and that several can be treated completely if they are caught in time. Most importantly, realise that if your child is not particularly motivated by an activity, it might be because his vision is making it challenging. This might also explain his scholastic difficulties; help to solve them and even improve self-esteem!
Key numbers for adopting good habits
2 metres from the television
55 - 65 cm from screens (according to their size)
30 - 40 cm for near-sighted activities (reading, puzzles, drawing, etc.)
20 - 20 - 20: a necessary 20 second pause, to look into the distance - 20 feet (6 metres), every 20 minutes
90 minutes: the daily amount of time that children should be playing outside in order to reduce the onset and progression of myopia
It's important to keep an eye on healthy sight!