Roselle Lions offer tips on spotting vision problems in children

Now that school is in full sessions and kids are back to learning, the Roselle Lions Club and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are reminding parents of the signs of vision problems in their children.

Many classroom problems are linked to vision defects in kids. Myopia, nearsightedness, makes things in a distance such as blackboards seem blurry.

Studies show myopia is becoming more common among children. While there is no proven link, research suggests that children who spend more time indoors doing near-focused activities (such as computer use, video games and reading) have higher rates of myopia than those who spend more time outdoors.

Parents can watch for signs of vision problems in their children. Here are four subtle signs that could point to such problems. First, having a short attention span. Your child may lose interest in games, school projects or other lengthy activities.

Losing their place when reading and avoiding reading and other close activities are two more warning signs. Children can often be subtle about a problem and either ignore it or think it’s normal and not tell a parent about the trouble they’re having. Finally, turning their head to the side during activities may indicate a refractive error, including astigmatism. Turning their head helps the child see better.

Hyperopia, farsightedness, is another common vision problem in which distant items are seen clearly but close up items are blurry. Children with hyperopia may see nearby items blurry, may need too squint to see clearly, may have eyestrain and possible burning eyes.

They may also have aching in and around the eyes and may have eye discomfort or a headache after doing close up work such as reading, drawing, writing or using a computer.

Since good vision is necessary for daily living parents are urged to watch for signs of problems in their children and to seek professional eye care for them.

Learn more about the Roselle Lions at www.rosellelions.com. Their volunteer efforts go beyond the support of vision care, to addressing unmet health and education needs worldwide.