Fact: One in four preschoolers in the US has vision problems that affect their learning. This is according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Similarly, according to Prevent Blindness America, one in every four children in the US has eye problems that can lead to learning and social problems.
Undiagnosed vision problems among children are quite common. This is something that every parent should know because vision issue, if left undiagnosed and untreated can lead to serious problems. For example, in preschoolers, eye problems can lead to permanent vision loss. In school-aged children, eye problems can lead to learning-related problems.
Signs of vision problems in preschoolers
Here are signs of eye problems in preschoolers. If you see your child showing any of these symptoms, you should bring him or her to an eye specialist. They should be able to tell you if your child is suffering from an eye problem.
- Squinting
- Head tilting
- Sitting too close to the TV when watching
- Light sensitivity
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Poor eye and hand coordination
- Poor attention span
- Lack of interest in activities such as drawing, coloring, painting, and puzzles
Signs of vision problems in school-aged kids
Here are signs of vision issues in school-aged children. If you think your child is suffering from any of these symptoms, you should bring him or her to an eye specialist. They will be able to tell you if your child is suffering from a vision problem. Early detection is very important as this may affect your child’s performance in school.
- Sitting too close to the TV when watching
- Holding a book too close when reading
- Squinting
- Head tilting
- Light sensitivity
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Tearing
- Using only one eye when reading or watching TV
- Avoids sports and other recreational activities that require good vision
- Lack interest in video games and computer
- Poor academic performance
What are learning-related problems?
Learning disabilities and eye problems are totally different. Moreover, vision issues do not cause learning disabilities. However, there are learning-related vision problems. These are sometimes associated with learning disabilities. In some cases, a child may have both learning-related vision problems and learning disabilities. In one study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, children with vision problems have a greater chance of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than children with healthy eyesight. Similarly, they are also more likely to be diagnosed with learning difficulties than their peers. This is not surprising since good vision is required for a proper learning process. At the same time, some of the symptoms of learning problems display the same as some vision problems fooling teachers into the wrong course of action. In the case of dyslexia, for example, a child may not actually have it and only suffers from vision problems.
If you want to know more about undiagnosed vision problems, you can visit Houston LASIK & Eye, one of the leading laser eye surgery or LASIK centers in Houston.
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About the Author
Amjad Khokhar, M.D. is Chief LASIK Surgeon at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center. Add Dr. Khokhar on Google+ here.
References:
http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/good-vision-throughout-life/childrens-vision/preschool-vision-2-to-5-years-of-age
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20111028/studies-vision-problems-in-preschoolers-are-common
http://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/schoolage.htm
http://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/learning.htm
