Researchers call it a potential "game-changer"
Poor lens care means a higher risk of serious eye infections, which can in turn cause vision problems. Be sure to watch and make sure your child is taking proper care of their lenses.
Sources: (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
Last but not least, proper lens care is very important. But it is often challenging for children and teens.
Colorblindness is much more common in boys than in girls, and it is often very difficult to detect. One important symptom is the inability to tell the difference between similar colors.
Eye injuries are the most common cause of blindness in children. Baseball in particular is a major cause of eye injuries in children aged 14 or over.
Blue light is not necessarily bad for your child’s vision, but it is to be avoided late at night if you want your child to sleep well.
If you take a photo of your child and notice a white, yellow, or black reflection in one or both eyes, that can be a warning sign for an eye condition. If you are worried, see your child’s eye doctor.
Encourage your child to wear protective goggles when doing activities that have a risk of eye injury. Indeed, more than 90% of childhood eye injuries can be prevented with goggles.
Bear in mind that regular glasses do not offer sufficient protection against eye injuries. In fact, they may be more dangerous because they can shatter and glass can get into your child’s eye.
Contrary to popular belief, vision problems, including jerky eye movements and crossed eyes, do not cause learning disabilities. Rather, these are caused by problems with how the brain processes information.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist.
Again contrary to popular belief, children can get cataracts. The good news is that cataracts in children are often spotted early and can be treated.
Some symptoms of childhood vision problems are obvious, while others aren’t. Three less obvious symptoms are a quick loss of interest in activities that involve eye use, losing your place when reading, and turning your head to see something directly in front.
As children grow, their farsightedness often improves on its own. In certain cases, however, it can lead to strabismus and amblyopia if left uncorrected.
Teach your child the 20-20-20 rule: look up from the screen every 20 minutes and focus from at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Many school-age children are farsighted, rather than shortsighted. In most cases, they do not need glasses; they can accommodate their farsightedness by using their muscles.
If your little one does happen to get chemicals in their eyes, be sure to flush them with plenty of water and proceed to your nearest ER.
Bear in mind, too, that measles is the leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. As new cases continue to emerge in North America and Europe, remember to get your child vaccinated.
Once your baby becomes a toddler, it is time to keep an eye out for misalignment. Watch for one eye that looks straight ahead, while the other turns inward, outward, upward, or downward.
Young children are more likely to develop eye damage from chemical burns, and it is therefore important to keep your children away from cleaning products.
That said, it is not usual to see slight changes in a child’s eye color until they are up to three years old.
This can be a symptom of strabismus, a vision problem that occurs in up to 4% of children in the US, for instance. Be sure to see your pediatrician early if you suspect a problem.
By nine months, a baby’s eyes have almost turned their final color. Many babies are born with light eyes that darken as their melanin develops.
By three months, however, an infant’s eyes should start working together to follow a moving object. If you don’t notice this happening regularly by three months, have a chat with your pediatrician.
In fact, during the first two months of life, an infant’s eyes may appear to cross or wander over to the sides. They cannot properly focus on or follow objects.
By five months, babies are able to see in 3D and they have better depth perception. They are able to reach for objects, because they understand how far away they are from them.
If your baby is born premature, you should measure their milestones from their due date, rather than their birth date. Your child’s pediatrician will also check your infant’s vision at every well-visit.
During the first few months of a baby’s life, their vision is still forming. Newborns can see, but the connections between their retinas and brains are still forming.
Smoking while pregnant also makes it five times more likely that a baby will develop bacterial meningitis, which can also cause serious vision loss.
The first one probably doesn’t come as a surprise: smoking can harm an unborn child’s eyes. On the one hand, smoking increases the chance of premature birth, which in turn increases the likelihood of permanent vision loss or even blindness.
It is no great secret that good vision is important to a child's development. Kids who can't see properly are more likely to fall behind in school and have a generally lower quality of life. But the big problem with kids and their vision is that difficulties are often hard to detect. Children tend to accept their level of vision as normal, even if it is very compromised. After all, they don't know any different.
Luckily, there are some concrete things to look out for as your child develops, and some symptoms you definitely shouldn't ignore. Check out this gallery to discover what all parents and guardians should know about their kids' eyes.
20 things to know about children's eyes and vision
Things to look out for and be aware of
HEALTH Kids
It is no great secret that good vision is important to a child's development. Kids who can't see properly are more likely to fall behind in school and have a generally lower quality of life. But the big problem with kids and their vision is that difficulties are often hard to detect. Children tend to accept their level of vision as normal, even if it is very compromised. After all, they don't know any different.
Luckily, there are some concrete things to look out for as your child develops, and some symptoms you definitely shouldn't ignore. Check out this gallery to discover what all parents and guardians should know about their kids' eyes.