What signs and symptoms might indicate a child is experiencing vision problems? 

After they reach a certain age, children can express if they are having difficulty seeing the board at school or reading up close. When children are younger and unable to articulate their visual experiences, parents and educators can observe certain behaviours that can indicate if the child is having difficulty seeing. Some of these behaviours include: 

• Excessive clumsiness can indicate that a child is having difficulty with depth perception. 
• Covering an eye or leaning over a desk at one side can indicate that they may be compensating for double vision. 
• Some children may have difficulty looking between a board in the distance and then looking down to write on a paper close-up. 
• Complaining of headaches can indicate that they may be experiencing eye strain caused by a binocular vision condition. 

Article and video by Ameera Khan

Reviewed by Dr. Julie Shalhoub, OD, FAAO