Monitoring Eye Problems in Children
Some signs that your child may have a vision problem, include:
- White pupil instead of black
- Abnormal or different “red eye” on photography
- Abnormal moving of the eyes (for those over 6 months old)
- Chronic tearing
- Constant rubbing of the eye
- Extreme light sensitivity
- Chronic redness of their eyes
- Head tilt
Signs to watch for school-age children, include:
- Squinting
- Sitting too close to the television
- Having a hard time reading or losing their place while reading
- Trouble reading the blackboard at school
- Unable to see objects at a certain distance
- Avoidance of near tasks
- Behavioral issues
- Letter reversals
Eye Health As Your Child Ages
- Newborns should have their general eye health examined by a pediatrician or family physician while at the hospital.
- High-risk newborns (those with a family history of eye problems or premature) should be examined by an eye doctor as soon as possible, often in the hospital.
- Infants should have a comprehensive or “well baby” visit with a pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist between 6 months to 1 year of age or immediately if any specific problems are noted. Annual examinations are recommended.
- Children should have annual eye examinations by an eye doctor. Pediatricians and school screenings will detect large vision problems but not all health conditions, binocular vision problems, or trouble focusing the eyes.
- A number of eye problems can appear around age 3, such as eye turns or lazy eye. These need to be treated as soon as possible to avoid vision loss.
- School-aged children need annual eye examinations by an eye doctor to avoid vision-related learning difficulties which may not be detected by a regular screening.
- Myopia or nearsightedness can be mitigated, but the best results are obtained when the eyes just begin to change. This is often before children will fail a screening at the pediatrician or school.
Location
Duncanville Eye Associates
Tracey L. Yothers, OD, MS, FAAO, ABCMO
535 West Wheatland Road
Duncanville, TX 75116
contact us
Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Wednesday, Sunday:
Closed
Payment: Cash, Check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover