A person can begin to lose their eyesight at any age, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of vision loss is important to their eye health. An ophthalmologist at Baylor College of Medicine says noticing these signs is especially significant in young children because if certain eye problems are not addressed, it may impact their schoolwork or even result in permanent vision loss.
"There is a period - approximately the first eight years of life -when the brain and the eye are learning to work together and the visual system is still developing," said Dr. Christina Weng, assistant professor of ophthalmology at Baylor. "During this time, parents should watch out for behavioral changes because they can be a sign of potential eye problems."
Behavioral changes can occur when children and young teens experience vision loss but are not able to voice their troubles and instead act out in the classroom or at home. It may even affect their grades, Weng said.
"When children have trouble seeing, they often act out or exhibit other signs of stress, and it can be challenging to determine the cause of their behavior. It is very helpful for parents to pay attention to what situations trigger their behavior," she said.
Parents can measure behavioral change related to vision impairment by evaluating several key questions, Weng said. Does my child become upset when watching a movie far away from the screen? Does he/she avoid reading or other forms of near work? Does she seem to ignore people or objects at a distance? Additional symptoms associated with vision loss include:
- Frequent headaches
- Excessive eye rubbing
