Are you noticing that your child can’t traffic signs? Do you find them sitting closer and closer to the screen when you visit the cinema?

If you or your child is squinting, tilting, or rubbing your eyes, you may need vision assistance in the form of glasses or contacts.

How do you know if you need glasses?

Let’s take a look.

1. Sitting Too Close

You may notice yourself or your child sitting too close to the screen when you’re looking at a tablet or watching television.

This may be a sign of nearsightedness, in which objects near to you appear clearly, but objects located too far away appear blurry. Nearsightedness occurs when the shape of your eye causes light rays to bend incorrectly. When this happens, your eye will focus on images in front of your retina.

Nearsightedness could develop in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. It could develop quickly or worsen gradually throughout your life. 

If you need glasses but don’t get them, you’ll likely struggle with eye strain throughout your life. Symptoms can rob you of your energy and focus while working or socializing.

2. Covering One Eye

If your child is covering one eye while they’re reading, watching television, or playing video games, there’s a good chance that one of their eyes has a better vision than the other. They may be gaining clarity by trying to focus with only one eye.

Covering one eye is also a sign of a lazy eye, a condition also known as amblyopia . Symptoms of lazy eye include poor depth perception and head tilting. It’s often treated with glasses, contact lenses, or patching therapy.

3. Eye-Rubbing

Eye-rubbing could be a sign of many things, including allergies or pediatric conjunctivitis, which is also known as pink eye. Your child could also have dry eyes due to a lack of sufficient water consumption.

Eye-rubbing could also, however, indicate that your child is experiencing eye fatigue or eye strain. If your child is rubbing their eyes frequently and there doesn’t appear to be another medical reason, it’s definitely time for an eye exam.

4. Headaches

You or your child may suffer from headaches at night. This could be due to sinus pressure or stress. It could also, however, indicate that you need an eye exam.

Eye strain gets caused when both eyes are not properly aligned, or when you’re improperly focusing throughout the day. This often leads to headaches. 

If you or your child are experiencing regular head pain, it may be time to look into getting glasses.

5. Problems at School or Work

Your child may be experiencing difficulty concentrating on their schoolwork due to problems with their eyes. As a result, they may lose focus and have difficulty with reading comprehension or math. 

As an adult, you may find that you’re unable to focus on reading lengthy assignments or instructions because it causes strain on your eyes. An ophthalmologist can help you get the vision support you need to read and concentrate on what you’re learning without distraction.

6. Losing your Place while Reading

Your child may frequently lose their place while reading a book or magazine. This could be a sign of astigmatism, a condition that causes objects to appear blurry or distorted.

Astigmatism is caused by a cornea that has an oblong, rather than a spherical, shape. It gets treated with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. An eye doctor can help to diagnose astigmatism and prescribe the treatment your child needs to recover their eyesight.

What to Expect During an Eye Exam

Your child’s first eye exam is nothing to be worried about, but it helps to prepare them ahead of time. 

Your child will likely get a visual acuity test where the doctor will test their ability to see at different distances. This test involves a simple letter chart that will also allow your ophthalmologist to test your child’s depth perception. 

Your doctor will also test your child’s peripheral vision through an eye movement test. There is also an initial pupil movement test in which the doctor will check how your child’s eyes respond to a small light.

After an initial look at your child’s eyes, the doctor will put some drops in that dilate the pupils. You may then be asked to wait while the drops take effect. Thirty to forty minutes later, the doctor will use lights and lenses to inspect the back of your child’s eyes.

The effects of pupil dilation can last anywhere from twelve to twenty-four hours. For this amount of time, your child may be sensitive to light or have difficulty reading.

If your child needs glasses or contact lenses, the doctor will give you a prescription.

Choosing the Right Glasses

You can take a prescription for glasses to just about any business that sells eyewear. They are available in many colors, shapes, styles, and price points.

Some stores, such as Dilli Dalli glasses, sell designer frames at discount prices. You’ll need to know your budget, as your child will probably need new glasses as they continue to grow. 

If you find a local eyeglass maker that provides quality products at good prices, you’ll have someone you can keep returning to for new frames and lenses. 

How do you Know If you Need Glasses?

How do you know if you need glasses? Headaches, eye-rubbing, and trouble reading are all signs that your child may need an eye exam. The right ophthalmologist can help them get their vision healthy in no time.

For more information on your health and lifestyle, read our blog today. 

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