Common Childhood Behaviours That Might Signal Eye Problem

The eyes are the windows to the soul. You must have heard this phrase before. When someone is sad, happy, lying, feeling elated or telling the truth, it shows in their eyes. Coupled with the vital role that eyesight plays in people's lives, then you start to get a sense of why it is essential to start eye care early on in a child's life. For new parents, however, knowing when to take their child for an eye test can be a challenge. Some wait until it is too late to have an eye problem corrected. One common cause of the worrying trend is ignorance of subtle behaviours that might signal the onset of an eye problem. This article highlights some childhood behaviours that could indicate eye problems.

Tilting the Head to See Better -- If you notice that your child tends to lean their head when reading or watching something, they might have a problem with their eyes. If they do this rarely, then there is no cause for worry. It might be that their neck is tired and they are only looking for a comfortable position. However, seek the services of an optometrist if the tilting of the head turns into a habit. In most cases, the behaviour is a sign of the onset of astigmatism. Many children tilt their heads to compensate for this condition.

Using a Finger When Reading -- A common characteristic among children with eye problems is the tendency to lose placement of words when reading. Therefore, you will notice that affected kids tend to repeat one sentence at varying intervals. To avoid the back and forth movement, your child will use their finger to keep track of their reading. However, it is important to note that the finger habit is also common among healthy children since it helps them to take note of every word they read. To be sure, however, make an appointment with your optometrist.

Frequent Rubbing of Eyes -- When children are tired, they rub their eyes a lot. The same will happen if they have dry eyes or when a foreign object finds its way into their eyes. In these instances, the rubbing will be occasional. If it is repeated over time, however, it might be a sign of an eye infection. If that is the case, then it is more than likely that the rubbing will cause swelling around the eye area. Any discharge from the eye will also irritate the eyes, and this will heighten the urge to rub them. See an optometrist immediately if your child shows such symptoms.