It is estimated that at least every tenth child in Germany suffers from poor eyesight. Ideally, the restriction is recognized quickly and treated immediately. However, it is problematic if a child’s vision problems are only discovered very late or not at all.

Because this can lead to the child being restricted in its entire development and possibly even in its choice of career. In this article, you will learn about the signs of vision problems in children and what parents and teachers should pay particular attention to.

What are the signs of poor eyesight in children?

It is often particularly difficult to determine whether babies and young children have visual impairments as they are not yet very good at expressing themselves and cannot read or write. However, there are some signs that children have eye problems:

Abnormalities in the eyes

• large pupils
• squinting
• whitish or yellowish pupils
• light-shy eyes
• clouded cornea
• eye trembling
• eyelid changes
• watery and sticky eyes
• behavioral problems of the child

Frequent rubbing of the eyes with the fingers

• excessive blinking
• rolling eyes
• tilting of the head
• sensitivity to light
• passing objects

Poor eyesight is easier to identify in older children and does not go unnoticed for long, especially at school. Students with untreated vision problems can’t concentrate for as long, have trouble copying from the board, and make more mistakes in reading, which can quickly lead to poor grades. Poor concentration in children can also be an indication of other diseases.

Further problems

In addition to the abnormalities listed above, older children may have other problems that often go unnoticed or are considered normal in babies and toddlers. The most important of these are:

• headache
• balance disorders
• problems catching the ball
• Bumping on furniture and doors
• Closing one eye while reading or writing
• Problems writing within a line
• Confusion of letters and numbers
• little distance to the book while reading

What to do if you suspect a visual impairment?

If you suspect a visual impairment, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately, especially if there are obvious problems with the eye itself. The first eye examinations are usually carried out immediately after birth, a few days later, and about 4-5 weeks later. The eyes are examined externally, the sensitivity to light is tested and the lens and retina are checked.

If the child belongs to the risk group, the next ophthalmological examination should take place between the ages of six and nine months. This applies to children with a hereditary predisposition, premature births, and children with developmental delays. A child who shows no abnormalities does not have to see an ophthalmologist for the first time until the age of 1 to 2 years. An eye test should be carried out again at the latest before starting school.

What are common visual defects in children?

The most common visual defects in children include squinting, nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and ametropia. We also give an outlook on the treatments of these and how to treat them.

Squinting (strabismus)

When a child squints, this is usually relatively easy to recognize, because the two eyes do not look in the same direction. If left untreated, visual acuity in the squinting eye may not develop properly.

If squinting is not discovered before school starts, it is almost impossible to maintain normal visual acuity. Eyeglasses may be prescribed or occlusion therapy, which involves taping one eye shut, may be performed. In the worst case, an operation of the eye muscle must be performed.

Nearsightedness (myopia)

Those who suffer from nearsightedness see things that are close and blurry in the distance. Short-sightedness is not that common in the first years of life, but only develops over time, often when school starts (school-time short-sightedness).

Myopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. A good way to prevent myopia is to let children play outside for at least two hours a day.

Farsightedness (hyperopia)

Slight farsightedness in small children is nothing unusual and is usually easily compensated for by the elasticity of the eye lens. In the case of greater farsightedness, however, the eye muscles have to exert themselves too much to compensate for the misalignment, which often causes headaches. Weak farsightedness in children does not need to be treated, but severe farsightedness should definitely be corrected with glasses.

Corneal curvature (astigmatism)

With astigmatism, there are small dents in the cornea of ​​the eye, which means that a point is not displayed as a point but as a line on the retina. The images on the retina are therefore distorted, but this is largely compensated for by the brain. However, children with astigmatism see less accurately. In this case, too, early detection can contribute to better treatment. Glasses are usually prescribed for astigmatism.

Ametropia (anisometropia)

We speak of ametropia when there is a visual impairment in both eyes, but to different degrees and types. It can happen, for example, that one eye is farsighted in one eye and shortsighted in the other. In this case, a correction with glasses must also be carried out as soon as possible.

Increased eye pressure (child glaucoma)

One speaks of congenital or childhood glaucoma when the intraocular pressure is elevated at birth or in childhood. Raised eye pressure is less common in children than the above-mentioned vision problems, but it is more dangerous and can also develop in adulthood.

The optic nerve can be damaged, which leads to a restriction of the field of vision and, in the worst case, blindness. Elevated eye pressure usually occurs without major symptoms or comorbidities.

Basically, what the eye doesn’t learn by the age of six, it never learns again! Regular visits to the ophthalmologist in childhood are therefore strongly recommended.