The health of a child is a number one priority for parents, and the health of a child’s eyes is a critical part of this priority. Regular eye exams can help find potential eye problems and prevent future ones from arising. In between routine eye exams, keep an eye out for the following warning signs provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. If your child has any of these signs, contact your healthcare professional to schedule an appointment.
3 months of age
| Symptom | Potential Cause |
|---|---|
| Baby cannot make steady eye contact or seems unable to see | Partial or complete blindness |
Children of all ages
| Symptom | Potential Cause |
|---|---|
| Crossed eyes, turned out eyes or eyes that do not focus together | Misaligned eyes (strabismus) or Lazy Eye (amblyopia) |
| White or grayish-white color in the pupil | Partial or complete blindness |
| Eyes that flutter quickly side to side or up and down | Nystagmus |
| Tired, itching, burning eyes | Eye strain |
| Bulging Eyes | Graves disease (hyperthyroidism) |
| Complaint of eye pain, itchiness, or discomfort | Foreign material in eye |
| Redness in either eye that has not gone away in a few days or pus or crust in either eye | Pink Eye (conjunctivtis) |
| Eyes that are always watery, tearing | Eye allergies |
| Drooping eyelids | Weak muscle in the eyelid, if severe and left untreated can lead to lazy eye (amblyopia) |
| Rubs or squints eyes often | Nearsightedness (myopia) or Farsightedness (hyperopia) |
| Eyes frequently sensitive to light | Photophobia (abnormal sensitivity to artificial or natural light) |
It is recommended that your child(ren) get a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist before the age of 5, even if none of these conditions exist. The above table is not a comprehensive list. This post is for informational purposes only, so please talk to your healthcare professional about questions you may have about your child(ren)’s eyes.
Sources:
Your Child Eyes, American Academy of Pediatrics http://patiented.aap.org/content2.aspx?aid=5737&refURL (Last accessed 7.1.14)