It’s school time, but how can you tell if your child is having vision problems?  Children with vision problems don’t always know how to express or even realize they are having difficulty seeing. WebMD has an article to help guide you recognize symptoms to detect vision problems.

Kids learn through their eyes. Healthy vision is critical for them to read, write, see the chalkboard or computer, and even to play. It’s more than seeing clearly up close and far away. Eyes also help you tell similar letters apart such as “b” and “d.” And they allow you to remember details of what you read so you can picture the story in your mind.

Subtle Symptoms
If your child can’t see well, he can have trouble learning. He might lose his place while reading or avoid doing it. His grades might fall. Signs of an eye problem aren’t always obvious. You might notice that he:

Rubs his eyes a lot
Squints or blinks much of the time
Has lots of headaches due to eye strain
Tilts his head to one side
Covers one eye to see
Holds books close to his face
Has trouble remembering what he read
Has a short attention span

Problems You Can See
Changes in the way your child’s eyes look can be a hint that something’s wrong. Look for:

Bulging eyes, Drooping lids, Redness, Eyes that don’t work together, Gray or cloudy center, Pus or crusty drainage, Rapid movements (up and down or side to side), Constant watering, Your child may also tell you his eyes hurt or feel itchy.

Early Detection Is Key
The most common eye problems in kids are blurred vision (refractive errors), crossed eyes (strabismus), and lazy eye (amblyopia). A regular eye exam can catch them early, before you or your child notices anything wrong. The longer she has an untreated vision problem, the more her brain will work to make up for it. This can lead to future issues that may be harder to treat.

Vision Screening for Kids
Little kids have their eyes checked during doctor visits or at school. This is called “vision screening.” It can tell if your child is likely to have problems. But it can’t be used to diagnose them. If the screening finds something that isn’t normal, you’ll need to take your child to the eye doctor. And even a good screening report doesn’t mean your kid has perfect vision. These tests can miss up to 60% of problems.

Eye Exams After Age 3
Kids age 3 and up should get a complete eye exam by an eye doctor once every 2 years. By this age, your child should be able to read the letters on a vision chart. To get her ready, you could take her with you when you get an eye exam. Schedule the visit after a meal or nap. Bring along a favorite stuffed toy. Holding it may prevent fussing with equipment.