Healthy Minute: Is Your Child’s Vision Ready for School Success?

As we head back to school, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is encouraging parents and caretakers to learn how they can help protect their child’s vision.

One in 20 preschool-aged children and one in four school-aged children has a vision problem.  If not corrected, these problems may lead to permanent vision loss.  Finding problems and treating them early is the best way to help your child develop their best vision.

However, many children may not know that they have a problem because they think the way they see is the way everyone else sees.  An eye exam is the ideal way for parents to know if their child has a vision problem.  Parents should also watch for the following signs:

What do your child's eyes look like?

• Eyes don't line up, one eye appears crossed or looks outward
• Eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen
• Eyes are watery or red (inflamed)

How does your child act?

• Rubs eyes a lot
• Closes or covers one eye
• Tilts head or thrusts head forward
• Has trouble reading or doing other close-up work, or holds objects close to eyes to see
• Blinks more than usual or seems cranky when doing close-up work
• Squints eyes or frowns

What does your child say?

• "My eyes are itchy," "my eyes are burning" or "my eyes feel scratchy."
• "I can't see very well."
• After doing close-up work, your child says "I feel dizzy," "I have a headache" or "I feel sick/nauseous."
• "Everything looks blurry," or "I see double.”

Parents and caretakers are encouraged to visit www.preventblindness.org/wi or call 414-765-0505 for free information on a variety of children’s vision health topics including eye conditions and eye safety.

“Healthy Minute” is brought to you by healthyburnett.org