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26Sep 2019

Pediatric Vision Therapy: Is it Right for My Child?

When glasses, contacts or surgery can’t treat a vision condition alone, pediatric vision therapy may be effective. Learn more & discover expert vision therapy near Columbus, Ohio.

Pediatric Vision Therapy: Is it Right for My Child?

As a parent, you have the ability to zero-in and understand what your child needs or wants almost immediately. Quickly recognizing their emotions, demeanor, abilities, and desires is what makes you their everything and ultimate advocate.

Still, with as fast as children grow and develop, there is one area that even the most observant parent may not notice an issue looming in – their child’s vision.

A Struggling Visual System in a Child is Hard to Spot

If your child has a struggling visual system, it can be hard for you to spot because your child may not even know he or she is contending with a vision problem. If they don’t sense something is wrong, how can they communicate signs or concerns to you?

Or, perhaps you’ve noticed a shift in your child’s behavior and learning abilities/attitude. It’s absolutely normal for most parents to attribute these issues with a multitude of other things before considering if their child’s vision is the culprit.

When it comes to your child’s vision, we take the care and keeping of their healthy vision very seriously.

Whether they may need glasses, vision therapy, or a combination of both to help address and correct their vision and learning/behavioral problems, we’re here to break it all down for you:

What is Pediatric Vision Therapy?

Pediatric vision therapy is a non-surgical, therapeutic program where an optometrist works with your son or daughter on various visual activities that are specifically designed to strengthen their visual system and teach it to correct its impairments.

Think of pediatric vision therapy as physical therapy for the eyes – an alternative route for treating certain vision conditions that glasses, contacts or surgery can’t treat alone.

Discover a highly-effective pediatric vision therapy program in near Columbus Ohio:

The Best Approach to Vision Therapy Games for Children

It is the goal of pediatric vision therapy to help each patient achieve clear binocular vision in a fun and comfortable way.

The best vision therapy games and exercises for children:

  • Are always customized to fit a child’s exact vision needs
  • Involve both the eyes and the parts of the brain that control vision
  • Include prisms, filters, lenses, and computer-assisted activities
  • Utilize balance metronomes, boards and non-computerized visual instruments when needed
  • Require active participation from all team members to be successful and effective, including: doctor, patient, child’s parents and, when necessary, vision therapist

Problems Vision Therapy Can Correct

When it’s determined that glasses, contacts or surgery can’t treat a certain vision issue, vision therapy can prove effective.

Vision therapy mainly works to correct:

Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)
Lazy eye is a vision development issue where an eye cannot achieve normal visual acuity. This is usually caused by strabismus (cross-eyed) or another eye teaming problem.
Cross-Eyed (Strabismus)
Cross-eyed is a vision condition where a child cannot (under normal conditions) align both eyes simultaneously. One or both of the eyes may turn in, out, up or down.

Vision therapy has proven effective for treating an intermittent form of strabismus called convergence insufficiency. With this form of cross-eyed, a child cannot keep his or her eyes properly aligned when reading, despite good eye alignment when looking at distant objects.

Slight Eye Alignment Problems (Phorias)
When an eye alignment problem doesn’t produce a visible eye turn, but still causes eye strain and eye fatigue when concentrating on viewing something – like reading – vision therapy can help to minimize or correct the issue.
Eye Movement Disorders
Vision therapy can improve the accuracy of eye movements used during reading and other close-up visual work.
Eye Focusing (Accommodative) Disorders
Vision therapy can improve near-far focusing skills.
Other Vision Issues
Other vision problems that vision therapy may prove effective for include:

  • Visual-perceptual disorders
  • Vision problems related to developmental disabilities
  • Vision problems connected with an acquired brain injury (such as from a stroke)

Think your child would benefit from vision therapy? Schedule an appointment with a team that specializes in pediatric vision therapy near Columbus, Ohio:

What Vision Therapy Isn’t

With so many self-help vision improvement programs and courses available today – which can be found through TV advertisements and Google searches – it’s important to not confuse vision therapy for a self-run program that has you perform a series of eye exercises (and may even claim you can throw away your eyeglasses).

No such program you find on TV or the Internet are endorsed by professional eye care organizations. Additionally, there is no scientific evidence that self-help programs of eye exercises can correct eye issues or reverse nearsightedness or other refractive errors.
 

Vision Therapy & Learning and Behavioral Difficulties

Because vision is the primary sense by which we learn, it’s incredibly common for a child with a learning or behavioral difficulty to also have an underlying, undiagnosed vision problem that is contributing to their learning/behavioral problems.

Most optometrists use vision therapy as a piece in a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of varying degrees of learning difficulties.
 

10 Signs Your Child May Benefit from Vision Therapy

If your child is displaying one or more of these signs, don’t negate the possibility that the issue(s) could be caused – to some degree – by an unidentified vision issue:

  1. Difficulty in school despite passing an eye screening
  2. Attention issues/difficulty concentrating
  3. Poor reading skills/covering one eye when reading
  4. Avoidance of reading or school work
  5. Poor grades despite seeming very intelligent
  6. Failing exams on paper, but verbalizing the answers
  7. Lack of interest in sports or other activities
  8. Tears and fights over homework
  9. Behavior problems
  10. Frequent headaches

First thing’s first: Let’s get your child’s eyes assessed.

A quick and painless pediatric eye exam will be able to give the eye doctor a wealth of information about your child’s overall visual abilities and vision needs. From there, it can be determined if glasses, vision therapy, or a combination of both will help your child see and feel better than ever:

Related Pediatric Vision Therapy Resources:

Understanding the overarching topic of vision problems in children is vital to do in conjunction with learning about pediatric vision therapy.

Knowing if your child’s vision is fully supporting their living and learning needs is vital to their development, success, comfort and happiness.

Learn about child vision problems and discover the signs of vision problems in babies, toddlers and children through our related articles:

The Best for Your Child: Pediatric Eye Doctor & Vision Therapy Near Columbus, Ohio

Let’s ensure your child’s vision is fully supporting his or her living and learning needs.

Through a quick and painless healthy eye exam, we will get an accurate picture of your child’s overall vision and identify what he or she needs to perform at their best in every aspect of life – whether that be glasses, vision therapy or both.

We make it our mission to make every pediatric appointment fun, engaging and comfortable.

Schedule an appointment to come in and see us soon:

Hey, Kids! Did You Know Vision Therapy is Fun and Exciting?

young girl wearing glasses


Going to the doctors can be a strange and uncomfortable experience. But never fear! Going to see Dr. Wineland and Dr. Sanders is really fun and super easy.

Did you know we’ve been helping other kids strengthen their vision for many years? We like to incorporate games and activities into vision therapy, so you will have fun and help your eyes get strong at the same time.

And just so you know, there are no needles or sharp things in vision therapy! There is nothing scary about vision therapy at all.

Here’s how you can prepare for a vision therapy appointment with us:

  • Find your favorite joke and get ready to tell it to us (we love jokes!)
  • Be ready to tell us how your eyes feel, and anything you are worried about with your vision. When we know how your eyes feel and how well they are/are not helping you see, we can better help you in therapy.
  • Arrive at your appointment excited to learn and try new things.

We’re excited we get to help your eyes see better than ever!

Categories:
Young boy putting in contact lens for kids
26Aug 2019

Children & Contact Lenses: When Is the Right Time?

Is your child ready to switch from glasses to contacts? We discuss contact lenses for kids, including at what age can a child wear contact lenses. Read more.

Contact Lenses for Kids: When Is the Right Time?

For some children, switching from eyeglasses to contacts is an exciting transition.

Young boy putting in contact lens for kids

Whether your child has expressed interest on their own about making the shift, or you feel like they’re ready to take the leap, you probably have several questions about contact lenses for kids – including at what age can a child wear contact lenses?

Let’s run through important insights about contact lenses for kids and discuss how we can personally assess your child’s vision to determine if he or she is ready to make the change.

Are Contact Lenses Safe for Kids?

When it comes to children and contact lenses, the question most frequently asked by parents and caretakers is, “Are contact lenses safe for kids?”

The short answer is: It depends.

Contact lenses are safe for kids, but…

Much more than just knowing they’re safe, parents and caretakers MUST acknowledge that the safety of them relies on the child’s maturity and ability to handle the responsibility of wearing and caring for contact lenses. These factors are more important than the kid contact lenses age suggestion.

At What Age Can a Child Wear Contact Lenses?

While every eye care professional will have his or her own stance on when it is appropriate to introduce a child to soft contact lenses, generally speaking, kid contact lense age range is between 8-14 years old.

The age gap may seem large to some, but as every parent can attest to, children develop and mature at different rates. Some children demonstrate signs of responsibility and maturity at a young age and may be ready to wear contact lenses when they’re eight; others may not be ready until age 12, 14 or older.

Is Your Child Ready?

Two simple things parents need to make sure of:

  • Does your child understand the benefits of not wearing eyeglasses?
  • Can your child follow their eye doctor’s instructions for eye care exactly, day after day?

As pediatric optometrists, we see an abundance of children every day. What we commonly recognize is if a child needs to be constantly reminded of good grooming habits and/or organizational skills, they may not be ready for contact lenses and should remain wearing glasses at this time.

Because contact lenses can cause vision issues, eye irritation and eye infection, or – at worst – vision loss if not handled correctly (like stored in a proper, safe place or removed at necessary times) it’s best to wait until your child is completely ready to own this new lifestyle.

Benefits & Drawbacks of Contact Lenses for Kids

Without question, children can benefit in multiple ways by wearing contact lenses. The benefits of contacts include:

Controlling Nearsightedness
For some myopic children, contact lenses can slow the progression of nearsightedness. Some studies have even shown that certain, specially designed contact lenses – like gas permeable and multifocal soft contacts – can provide a substantial amount of myopia control in many children who live with nearsightedness.

Additionally, a recent study showed that 90 percent of children who live with nearsightedness had no trouble applying or removing the contacts without assistance from their parents.1

Building Self-Esteem
To most parents, this may come as no surprise: Many children feel self-conscious wearing eyeglasses and some children just don’t like the way they look in glasses.

Studies have shown that in addition to vision correction, wearing contact lenses may improve how some children feel about their appearance and the number of activities they participate in.1

Sports
For children who play a sport, contact lenses obviously offer a number of advantages over glasses, such as:

  • Consistent, stable, crisp vision
  • An unobstructed view of the playing field, making for better peripheral vision
  • No worry of frames breaking and causing an eye injury

In contrast, there are some drawbacks of contact lenses for kids and rules for wearing them.

As discussed above, contact lenses do come with risks if not handled with cleanliness and responsibility. Because eye irritations, infections or vision issues and loss can result from improper contact lens wear, it’s vital that parent and child both know these drawbacks and become well-versed on the rules of use with all types of lenses, including daily disposable contact lenses:

  • Know how to properly disinfect and handle them
  • Know when to replace them
  • Know to not share or swap contact lenses with another person
  • Know to never use spit, tap water, distilled water, or homemade non-sterile saline solution to clean them
  • Know to apply makeup after contact lenses are in place
  • Know it is best to use hypoallergenic skin products, or products specifically marked “for contact lens wearers” or “for sensitive eyes”
  • Know to always remove the contact lenses at the first sign of irritation

Additional, Good-to-Know Info: 5 Resources to Understand Child Vision Problems

As we close our discussion on contact lenses for kids, we must conclude on one of the most important vision-related topics: vision problems in children.

Did you know vision is the primary sense by which we learn?

Knowing if your child’s vision is fully supporting their living and learning needs is paramount to their development, success, comfort and happiness. Learn about vision problems in children and discover the signs of vision problems in babies, toddlers and children through our related articles:

Let iCare Vision Help You Make an Informed Decision on Contact Lenses for Your Child & Ensure Their Vision is Healthy

Do you think your child is ready for contact lenses? It’s an exciting step and we’re excited to discuss the process with you and your child.

Through a quick and painless healthy eye exam, the eye care professionals at iCare Vision will get an accurate picture of your child’s overall vision and identify or revisit any issues he or she is contending with.

From there, we will know they type of lens support your child needs and can conclude whether or not he or she is a good candidate for contact lenses at this time, based on several contributing factors.

Schedule an appointment to come in and see us soon:

For Kids & Teens: Are You Sure You’re Ready for the Responsibility of Contacts?


Do you feel like you’ve outgrown your bulky glasses? Are you very interested in wearing contact lenses?

Contact lenses are a big responsibility, as they require a lot of care and upkeep to make sure your eyes stay healthy.

  • Think about how well you keep up with other parts of personal hygiene, such as showering, brushing your teeth, flossing, etc. If you’re good with your personal hygiene, adding contact lenses into your routine shouldn’t be a problem. (Remember, they must be cleaned regularly, usually every day.)
  • Do you pay attention to your overall health? For contact lenses, it’s important you’re good at attending to and communicating health issues you’re experiencing.When wearing contacts, you could start to experience itching, redness, or irritation in your eyes. Once you notice these signs, you must take the lenses out and have your eyes checked by an eye doctor. If you ignore issues, you could face serious problems with your eyes.
  • Do you know the potential risks that come with wearing contact lenses? When used properly, contact lenses are very safe. The risks come from wearing them longer than you’re supposed to, not cleaning them right, or not taking them out at night. These risks can lead to eye ulcers and infections.

If you feel you’re ready for contact lenses, we’re here to help you make the transition.

Resources:
1 All About Vision. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? Accessed August 4, 2019. https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/contacts.htm.

Categories:
01Aug 2019

What’s Causing Your Dry Eyes?

Your dry eyes may be linked to another health condition. Learn about dry eye causes & the dry eye relief found at iCare Vision Center.

Dry Eyes: The Ultimate Guide

What’s Causing Your Dry Eyes?

As our dominant sense, vision is key to navigating our everyday life. When our vision becomes uncomfortable and irritating, it can derail hours, activities and entire days.

 
dry eye causes and relief
 

If you’re struggling with dry, red, itchy, or irritated eyes, you undoubtedly want to know what’s causing this condition and the best route to achieve real, sustained relief. Let’s dive in:

 

Why Are My Eyes So Dry?

Did you know? When there is a disconnect between tear production and drainage, dry eyes develop.

Dry eyes are a vision condition that can quickly and persistently deliver a burning, stinging, itchy sensation, or redness and grittiness – among many other symptoms.

The uncomfortable symptoms associated with dry eyes advance when your eyes either don’t produce enough tears or don’t make the right quality of tears. It’s also important to note that there is a link between dry eyes and other conditions you may be living with or medications you may be taking.

 
Dry Eye Diagnosis

Dry eye disease is a fairly common condition that occurs when your tears are not able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes.

  • This lack of tear production can be problematic for a number of reasons. For example, dry eyes may occur if you aren’t able to produce enough tears or if the tears you do produce are of poor-quality.
  • This lack of proper tear production can lead to damage and inflammation of your eye’s surface.
  • Your dry eyes can be caused by a variety of reasons that disrupt your healthy tear film, which has three layers: fatty oils, aqueous fluid, and mucus. This combination normally keeps the surface of your eyes lubricated, smooth, and clear, but problems with any of these layers can result in dry eyes.
  • In addition, decreased tear production (which can occur when you’re unable to produce enough aqueous fluid) and increased tear evaporation (when the oil film produced by meibomian glands on the edge of your eyelids become clogged) are common instigators of a dry eye diagnosis.
What Causes Dry Eyes?

Everyone who has dry eye symptoms wants to know, “What causes dry eyes?” Here are additional, common causes of dry eyes:

  • Inadequate amount of tears/tear production
  • Poor quality of tears
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Medications
  • Medical conditions (Examples: Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid problems)
  • Environmental conditions (example: Exposure to smoke, wind and dry climates)
  • Long-term wear of contact lenses or eye surgeries, such as laser surgery*
  • Allergies**

*It’s important to note that contact lenses and surgery do not directly cause dry eyes, but they can make symptoms considerably worse. With contact lenses specifically, eyes that already have trouble keeping the cornea moist struggle when there is an added top layer of lens material.
**Researchers have discovered a link between spring allergens, like pollen, and dry eyes.
Pollen counts and dry eye diagnosis reach an annual peak in April, when approximately 21% of patients are diagnosed with dry eye.
While spring consistently sees a spike in dry eye and allergy diagnosis, winter also sees a spike, probably due to the low humidity caused by indoor heating.
If you take antihistamines for the allergies and you are experiencing uncomfortable dry eyes, you may have to stop taking them. Antihistamines can make dry eye symptoms worse.

We understand that it’s hard for the possible cause of your dry eyes to be so vague. That’s why it’s always best to not play the guessing game and get in to see an eye doctor.

Through a quick and painless eye exam, we can identify the cause and triggers of your dry eyes, ensure your vision is healthy, and discuss a treatment route that you’re comfortable with.

Schedule an appointment to discuss dry eyes (and related health conditions) with your eye doctor at iCare Vision:

Dry Eyes & Health Conditions: Related Diseases and Complications

Your tears are quite complicated, being composed of many elements including proteins, natural antibiotics, minerals, water, mucus, and oil to name a few. While issues related to tear production directly impacts a dry eye diagnosis, a dry eye condition can also be caused by changes elsewhere in your body.

If you live with a health condition, your dry eyes may be linked. Conditions, such as the ones listed below, are all commonly associated with dry eye syndrome.

  • Diabetes. This disease has been shown to cause changes in the nerve tissue. Tear secretion is controlled by conversations between the corneal nerves and the lacrimal gland nerves. This feedback loop becomes interrupted when peripheral neuropathy or diabetes-related nerve damage occurs, causing your eyes to become excessively dry.
  • High blood pressure. With high blood pressure, dry eyes have more to do with the medications used to treat hypertension than with the actual disease process.
  • Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. With autoimmune disorders, the same autoantibodies that attack your joints can target your eyes – preventing normal tear production. We talk about each of these more in-depth below:
    • Lupus. For someone who develops lupus, dry eye syndrome is the most common symptom they will experience. Dry eye disease develops in an individual with lupus because of autoimmune antibodies and immune system debris that build up in the eye tissues. This causes a dramatic reduction in the water component of the tears and instability problems with mucus production inside the tears.
    • Rheumatoid arthritis. Several inflammatory conditions, such as scleritis and iritis, often develop with arthritis. These conditions can be painful and difficult to treat, resulting in an inflammatory component that may cause inflammatory cells and debris to build up in the lacrimal gland. This can change the eye’s surface, causing significant dryness that can lead to visual compromise and corneal scarring.
    • Sjögren’s syndrome. This disease is a complex and chronic inflammatory ailment that causes dry eyes, dry mouth, joint pain, swelling, stiffness, swollen salivary glands, dry throat, coughing, ​and fatigue. The condition typically affects females more than males and tends to occur in the fourth and fifth decades of a person’s life. Most individuals develop dry eye symptoms long before a real diagnosis of Sjogren’s syndrome is made.
 

How to Get Rid of Dry Eyes

Because the cause of dry eyes can vary from person to person – and often depend on pre-existing conditions – a variety of dry eye relief approaches and treatments are available.

The specific dry eye relief method that will work for you may also depend on the severity of your condition.

The following are common dry eye relief approaches, but for the most accurate and tailored method, it’s always best to consult with your optometrist first (as, oftentimes, utilizing the wrong relief route could make symptoms and matters worse).

If you’re suffering from dry eyes, here’s iCare Vision’s suggested plan of attack:

Level 1: Homeopathic/Natural

Homeopathic/natural treatment approaches for dry eye syndrome have been proven effective due to their ability to stimulate your eyes, helping them naturally produce more tears.

Homeopathic medicines for dry eyes stimulate the lacrimal glands and are able to produce more tears.

Some options include:

  • Warm compresses with messaging
    Two times per day, apply a warm washcloth to the eyes and hold for five minutes, rewetting the cloth each time it cools. After about 10 minutes, gently rub the washcloth over your eyelids, including the base of the upper eyelashes.
  • Artificial tears
    Artificial tears are eye drops used to lubricate dry eyes and help maintain moisture on the outer surface of your eyes. These eye drops can be used to treat dry eyes that result from aging, certain medications, medical conditions, eye surgery and environmental factors.
  • Drink one gallon of water every day
    Like the rest of your body, your eyes need water to maintain their health. Water helps keep your eyes moist and produces healthy tears. Lack of tear production is a sign of dry eye syndrome, so drinking enough water is a simple way to manage your dry eye syndrome.
  • Omega 3-fatty-acid pills
    These can be 2000mg and/or you can eat fish three times per week, like cold water salmon, trout, cod and other similar fish. In multiple placebo-controlled clinical trials, consuming fish oil was linked to significant improvement in dry eye syndrome symptoms and overall improvement in irritation.
  • Nighttime mask for eyes
    Some people with dry eye syndrome use a dry eye sleep mask at night. It can work well for individuals with dry eyes who experience nighttime eye irritation due to leaking air from a CPAP machine (or similar device) as well as those who sleep under a fan or near a draft from an air conditioning unit that dries out the eyes at night.
  • Treat allergies
Level 2: Alternative Natural Remedies

It is estimated that nearly 50% of the population deals with dry eyes on a regular basis. While the condition can be caused by medical issues as well as environmental factors, it is good to know how to ease your pain and discomfort without the necessity of prescription medication.

Here are a few more natural remedies to try:

  • Massaging lid devices
    Research has shown that eyelid massaging devices can improve symptoms of dry eye by enhancing stability and uniformity of the tear lipid layer. The device is designed to express the meibomian glands by a massaging, vertical motion, as a treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction and is meant to be used by individuals at home twice a day.
  • Bead eye masks for heat massage therapy
    Eye inflammation from chronic dry eyes can cause the meibomian glands, which produce the oil in your tears, to get clogged. To relieve these symptoms, it is often recommended you use warm compresses or heated dry eye masks to thin the oil, loosening the clogs in your glands and allowing the oil to flow out of the glands and into the tear film.
  • Place a humidifier in rooms where you’re spending more time
    Using a humidifier to add moisture to your environment can help with the itching and burning sensations associated with dry eye syndrome. Dry air can dry out your eyes but introducing moisture into the air and purifying it can keep your eyes from getting as irritated and dry.
Level 3: Rx / Medical Prescription

Dry eye syndrome can become a serious quality of life concern if left untreated. Fortunately, treatment for dry eye is improving, which means your quality of life can improve, as well.

If you’re experiencing dry eye syndrome, schedule an appointment with us at iCare Vision to see if the following medications may be appropriate for you:

  • Tobradex drops anti-inflammatory
    Tobradex eye drops are used to treat inflammation, corneal injury and bacterial infections in the external part of the eye. Before prescribing Tobradex, your eye doctor will have to examine your eyes to decide if the medication is right for you.
  • Restasis/ xiidra drops
    Restasis is a medication that works to reduce inflammation in the tear glands, helping to prevent further damage. Some people also report recovered tear production after using this medication for long periods of time. This medication is also used to treat eye symptoms related to Sjogren’s syndrome.
  • Oral doxycycline
    Recent studies have shown improvements in dry eye symptoms for individuals with chronic MGD who used refractory to conventional therapy, including warm compression, lid massage and topical antibiotic use, after ingestion of low-dose doxycycline.
  • Punctual lid plugs
    These tiny plugs are about the size of a grain of rice and are inserted into the tear ducts of the eyelid to prevent tears from draining out of the eyes. The plugs force the liquid from tears to remain in the eyes, increasing the natural tear film and lubricating the cornea of the eye.

Good to know: In addition to antihistamines, high blood pressure medications – such as beta-blockers or diuretics – sleeping pills, anxiety medications, and other medications can cause dry eyes and lead to frustrating symptoms and irritabilities.

If you live with dry eyes, it’s always best to disclose all medications to your eye doctor so he/she knows all possible links and causes.

Schedule an appointment to discuss dry eyes (and related health conditions) with your eye doctor:

Level 4: Therapy and Laser Treatment and More

Laser treatments and therapy options effectively treat the underlying cause of meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye syndrome, providing long lasting results for millions of people struggling with chronic dry eyes.

  • Embryonic membrane therapy
    Embryonic membrane therapy has become a popular procedure in the last two decades. This treatment allows for a biological bandage to be applied to the ocular surface to promote surface reconstruction and healing.
  • Laser PRK
    This type of laser surgery corrects refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, or presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) and can help improve dry eye syndrome.
  • New drugs coming on to the market
    For people frustrated with their current dry eye treatment options, hope is on the horizon. Innovative drugs for ocular surface diseases of all kinds, including dry eye, are showing promise in clinical trials. Eye doctors are optimistic about expanding their arsenal of treatment tools.
 

Regardless of Cause, Your Eyes Deserve a Refresh. iCare Vision Can Give Your Eyes the Relief They Need

What is the root cause of your dry eyes? What is making your symptoms worse? Let us help you uncover what’s causing your dry eyes and find the right method of sustained relief.

While chronic dry eyes are very common, you don’t have to suffer with uncomfortable symptoms any longer.

Through a quick and painless eye exam, we can identify the cause and triggers of your dry eyes, ensure your vision is healthy, and discuss a treatment route that you’re comfortable with.

Schedule an appointment to discuss dry eyes (and related health conditions) with your eye doctor:

Categories:
sad boy with learning related vision problems looking out window
14May 2019

Could Your Child’s Behavioral Problems Be Linked to Poor Vision?

Can vision problems cause behavioral issues? Learn the link between vision problems and behavior & common learning related vision problems.

Could Your Child’s Behavioral Problems Be Linked to Poor Vision?

Childhood is simultaneously the best of times and the most transformative of times. Walking side-by-side with their incredible wonder and energy and enthusiasm is their growth and development. As children weave in and out of phases, it’s impressively easy to spot behavioral changes (and, therefore, behavioral issues).

sad boy with learning related vision problems looking out window

But during these years of immense change, behind the scenes evolutions, such as changes in eyesight, are almost near impossible to catch – especially since children don’t even know when they’re experiencing shifts in their vision that can lead to a visual problem.

That’s why, when a child exhibits behavioral or learning problems, it’s extremely important to not overlook the possibility of problematic vision issues that can be the root cause of certain behavior concerns.

As children weave in and out of phases, it’s impressively easy to spot behavioral changes (and, therefore, behavioral issues).

Learn About Forms of Treatment for Learning-Related Vision Issues

Common Vision Issues in Children

During a child’s school years, it’s more common than parents may think for children to contend with nearsightedness, farsightedness, a lazy eye, or a crossed eye.

Here’s what these vision conditions are:

  • Nearsightedness (myopia)
    A vision condition where a child can clearly see objects close up, but objects farther away are blurry.
  • Farsightedness (hyperopia)
    A vision condition where a child can clearly see objects far away, but objects close up are blurry.
  • Lazy eye (amblyopia)
    A vision condition where a child’s vision is blurry or reduced and cannot be corrected by glasses, contact lenses or eye surgery.
  • Crossed eye (strabismus)
    A vision condition where a child’s eyes don’t look in exactly the same direction at the same time. This condition is not as obvious as one might think, and is more likely to be detected by a pediatric eye doctor than a general practitioner.

Additionally, children commonly struggle with eye focusing, eye tracking and eye coordination problems. The presence of these issues – which school vision screenings can largely miss entirely -can affect school and athletic performances.

Vision Problems and Behavior

At first observation, behavioral problems seem to have little to nothing to do with a child’s vision. Upon deeper review, it’s important to understand that vision occurs in the brain – not the eyes. In the brain, the interaction between vision and the social and emotional pathways is significant.

While vision issues can fuel a wide array of behavioral and learning problems, they’re commonly discussed with the behavior issues of hyperactivity and distractibility. These specific behavioral issues are also frequently link with learning difficulties.

If your child is identified as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or another behavioral issue, and you feel they have been mislabeled, it’s vital to have your child’s vision checked.

Undetected and untreated vision problems can produce some of the exact same signs and symptoms of ADHD. Sometimes, a mislabeled behavioral issue is actually an undetected vision problem.

The Mounting Evidence that Proves Your Child’s Social, Emotional & Academic Success Depends on Clear Vision

Did you know that there are more neurons dedicated to our vision than the other four senses combined?4

Because vision affects behavior, attention, learning and processing, weak eyesight can be the culprit of several challenges your child is facing. Take a look at what studies on vision, behavior and learning have revealed:

  • 80% of what we learn is obtained through visual processing of information1
  • There’s a 75% chance that a child’s poor learning skills or learning difficulties are caused by vision problems
  • Vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers and 1 in 4 school-aged children2
  • An estimated 10 million children below 10 years of age have vision problems which affect their ability to learn3

Learning Related Vision Problems

With improved vision, difficult behaviors can potentially be changed. The same is true for learning issues.

While it’s necessary for children to focus at near and far distances for prolonged periods of time in school and during other tasks, a true indicator of a vision-related learning issue is when a child is having trouble completing (or cannot complete altogether) a near-sighted activity – like writing, reading, and fun work books.

It cannot be overstated: If you feel your child is displaying a behavioral issue, not achieving their potential in school, struggling to pay attention or exhibiting a short attention span, or not enjoying fun learning activities, a comprehensive pediatric eye exam should be part of the strategy when trying to get to the bottom of exactly what your child is contending with.

Forms of Treatment for Learning-Related Vision Problems

Undetected learning-related vision problems in children are common, which can make it hard to pay attention, fuel a short attention span, and lead children to struggle in school.

At iCare Vision, we are acutely aware of vision problems and behavior issues in children. We know that a child with an untreated vision problem may be misdiagnosed with behavior problems or ADHD/ADD when – in reality – they have a learning-related vision issue.

  • Our goal in treatment is to find the root cause from a visual perspective. To do this, a comprehensive child’s vision exam that includes routine eye exam tests and additional, specific tests for detecting a learning-related vision problem – like convergence insufficiency, visual perception, and more.
  • Extra tests would include accommodation, binocular vision, and ocular motility testing.
  • In addition to exams and tests, and the learning problems and vision issues your child is contending with, we may recommend other testing, either in our office or with a child’s developmental optometrist.

A comprehensive child vision exam will direct treatment. Treatment may include:

Is It Time for Your Child to See a Children’s Eye Doctor for a Pediatric Eye Exam?

Because some signs and symptoms of behavioral and learning difficulties are extremely similar to those of vision problems, having your child’s eyesight assessed must be a part of the solution to uncover the ‘why’ – and the earlier the eye exam the better.

At iCare Vision, we’re committed to your child’s vision and ensuring that their eyesight is promoting a healthy lifestyle and success in school. As a team of licensed optometrists who specialize in pediatric eye exams, we thoroughly assess your child’s vision and see to it that they find the experience fun and engaging.

Schedule Pediatric Healthy Eye Exam

Hey, Kids! Are You Supporting Your Eyes?

Your eyes need your help! Here’s how you can help them, whether you’re at school or home:

1. Wear Your Eyeglasses
Do you wear eyeglasses? If so, be sure to wear them when you’re supposed to. Your glasses help you see better, especially when they’re clean and free of smudges. If you need help cleaning them, talk to an adult and ask them to show you how to clean your glasses and how to properly store them when you’re not wearing them.

2. Wear Your Sunglasses
Did you know the sun’s rays can hurt your eyes? If you don’t already have a pair, ask a parent or adult to help you find sunglasses that block 99% or 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. And remember, never look directly at the sun.

3. Rest Your Eyes
If you spend a lot of time looking at a computer, phone, or TV screen, your eyes can get really tired. Give your eyes a rest with the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

4. Talk About How Your Eyes are Feeling
If your eyes feel weird, or you feel like you can’t see clearly, be sure to tell your parents or teacher about what you’re experiencing. They can help you get your eyes checked.

Resources:
1 The Optometric Extension Program Foundation. Children’s Vision Care in the 21st Century & Its Impact on Education, Literacy, Social Issues & the Workplace. Accessed May 1, 2019. https://www.oepf.org/sites/default/files/journals/jbo-volume-22-issue-2/22-2%20Zaba.pdf.
2 Health Day. Vision Problems Can Harm Kids’ Development, Grades. Accessed May 1, 2019. https://consumer.healthday.com/eye-care-information-13/eye-and-vision-problem-news-295/vision-problems-can-harm-kids-development-grades-724812.html.
3 PaTTAN. Vision and Learning. Accessed May 1, 2019. https://www.pattan.net/presentation/download/index.php?presentation_id=624&download_id=2427&file_name=Presentation%20Slides&content_type=pdf.
4 Imagine Think. True or false? Vision rules the brain. Accessed May 1, 2019. https://www.imagethink.net/true-or-false-vision-rules-the-brain/.

Categories:
mom helping child with eye injury first aid
09Apr 2019

First Aid for Eye Emergencies: What to Include in Your Home Kit

Is your first aid kit prepared to handle eye emergencies? Learn about eye injury first aid & when to call the eye doctor for immediate care.

First Aid for Eye Emergencies: What to Include in Your Home Kit

In the blink of an eye, your vision or your child’s vision could be in grave danger due to an unforeseen accident.

When an emergency arises from any number of situations and causes, will your first aid kit have the proper items needed to handle an eye injury?

It’s OK if you answered no, as it’s common for most at-home first aid kits to only be stocked and ready for minor cuts, scrapes and sprains. But when an eye emergency occurs, it’s important to have the necessary first aid and to know what to do.

Ensuring you’re prepared for the unexpected can save precious time and mean the difference between possible blindness or vision issues and a speedy recovery.

Let’s run down what to add to your home’s first aid kit to guarantee it’s prepped if an eye injury would happen. We’ll also discuss when you should call your eye doctor due to the severity of the injury.

Eye Injury First Aid

The three most important things to have in your first aid kit for eye emergencies are:

  • A rigid eye shield
  • Commercial eyewash (that is not expired)
  • Activated/instant cold compress

Eye Injuries from Chemical Burns

Chemical burns in the eye(s) can easily happen at home with exposure to cleaning products, drain cleaners, fertilizers, nail polish remover and other substances, including vinegar.

Whenever eyes come in contact with chemicals, you should immediately:

  • Flush the eye with water *If a contact lens is in the eye, flush over the lens
  • Hold the eye under a faucet or shower, or pour water into the eye from a clean container. *The eye should remain open wide during flushing
  • Flush the eye for a total of 15 minutes
  • DO NOT bandage the eye
  • CONTACT your optometrist immediately after flushing

Eye Injuries from Cuts and Punctures

Perhaps the most common eye injury – because they can happen spontaneously and just about anywhere – cuts and punctures to the eyes and eyelids should be treated promptly:

  • Cover the injured eye with a rigid shield without pressure. *Secure the shield to the eyebrow and the cheekbone without putting pressure on the eye
  • DO NOT wash out the eye with any liquid
  • DO NOT try to remove an object from the eye if something remains lodged in there from the injury
  • CONTACT your optometrist immediately after applying the shield

Eye Injuries from Sudden Impacts

Colliding with another person or object, whether in a sporting event or by sheer accident, can mean significant trauma to the eye. If a blow to the eye occurs:

  • Immediately apply a cold compress without pressure
  • Continuously monitor the area around the eye
  • CONTACT your optometrist immediately if you experience:
    • Pain in or around the eye
    • Blurry vision
    • One eye sticking out more than the other
    • Blood inside the eye
    • Discoloration around the eye (black eye) *This can mean internal eye damage

First Aid for Eye Irritation

When specks of dust, sand and dirt get caught in the eye, there are right and wrong ways to handle this eye annoyance:

  • First of all: DO NOT rub the eye
  • Allow natural tears to work the speck out
  • If your natural tears don’t remove the irritation, try using commercial eyewash
  • Lift the upper eyelid outward and look down over the lower lid to try to loosen or move the speck
  • DO NOT attempt to use tweezers or another tool to try and remove the speck
  • CONTACT your optometrist if the speck doesn’t wash out

Experiencing any of the follow symptoms? Call your optometrist immediately!

No two eye injuries are exactly alike. Because of this, symptoms can vary.

If you have something in your eye that you’ve been unable to remove on your own, or if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should seek emergency eye care from your optometrist right away.

*Eye emergencies are better treated by an eye doctor than by urgent care or the emergency room (ER). Contacting your optometrist first will save you valuable time and provide you better assistance.

Signs of an eye injury and symptoms that require emergency service include:

  • Sudden loss of vision
  • Sudden double vision
  • Sudden redness/irritation/pain in the eye
  • Sudden burning or stinging
  • Different sized pupils
  • One eye moving differently than the other
  • One eye bulging or sticking out
  • Decreased vision
  • Severe light sensitivity
  • Severe itching
  • Discharge from the eye
  • Bleeding from the eye
  • Blood in the white part of the eye
  • Bruising or swelling around the eye
  • New onset flashes and/or floaters
  • Foreign body in the eye (especially metal or chemicals)
  • New or severe headaches with sensitive vision

In any eye emergency situation, the absolute best thing to do is seek care from an optometrist immediately.

Emergency Eye Care: Call 888-393-3911

24-Hour Emergency Eye Care with the Experts at iCare Vision

If you or a loved one have sustained an eye injury, don’t wait to seek medical attention – your vision depends on immediate, professional help.

Our team is highly experienced in a wide-array of acute and vision-threatening eye emergencies, and we’re available anytime, day or night.

Emergency Eye Care: Call 888-393-3911

While waiting for our professional help, read more about eye emergencies, including what NOT to do before we’re able to see you:

Categories:
man viewing computer screen and suffering from digital eye strain
21Mar 2019

What to Know BEFORE You Buy Computer or Gaming Glasses

Whether for work or gaming, your eyes are stressed from viewing digital screens all day and night. Read about eye strain treatment & how to get the best glasses to reduce computer eye strain.

What to Know BEFORE You Buy Computer or Gaming Glasses

From work to pleasure and hobbies, digital screens dominate in these areas of our lives.

With time spent at work (and, for many individuals, that means in front of a computer screen) claiming the majority of our hours, our eyes arrive home tired, irritated and dry.

Depending on the severity of your digital eye strain symptoms, you may even experience headaches, shoulder and neck stiffness, and a number of other uncomfortable side effects.

For individuals who are into gaming, perhaps all you want to do after work or on the weekends is unwind by playing your favorite game. Unfortunately, your eight plus hours a day in front of a computer screen are about to be compounded by additional hours in front of a TV, computer, or other digital gaming screen.

When digital eye strain (also known as computer vision syndrome) is causing you discomfort and hurting your vision, it’s time to do something about it.

What Are Computer and Gaming Glasses, Exactly?

Differing from corrective eyeglasses – like bifocals, progressive lenses or trifocals – glasses to reduce computer eye strain and blue light gaming glasses are specifically made to reduce eye strain symptoms that can develop when viewing a computer or digital screen for too long.

Computer and gaming glasses typically have anti-reflective lenses to reduce the glare that bounces off digital screens and block the harmful blue light that emits from the device.

Glass color tinting is also a feature unique to computer and gaming glasses, as this tint helps increase the screen’s contrast without making it too harsh for your eyes.

The Impact Blue Light Has on Your Health and Body

Blue light is what gives screens their brightness, and most digital displays need a lot of it.

  • Blue light can interfere with your ability to fall asleep and get a restful night’s sleep
  • Blue light can affect your memory and ability to learn due to a lack of quality, restful sleep
  • Blue light has been shown in studies to affect hormone levels that control hunger; in turn, certain individuals may be at an increased risk of obesity

In addition to the wide array of digital eye strain symptoms one can experience because of a high amount of blue light exposure, blue light may increase the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration because it penetrates all the way to the retina and can damage its light-sensitive cells.

Eye Strain Treatment: Where to Start

When your eyes and mind and mood are suffering because of digital eye strain, it’s understandable to search for fast relief.

Eyeglasses that say they filter out blue light from computers, smartphones, tablets and even TVs are becoming increasingly popular.

But before you jump online and quickly buy over-the-counter glasses that claim to be for computer and/or gaming use, start here:

Before you buy glasses to reduce computer eye strain…

Get in to see an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam.

It’s so important to see an optometrist annually, even if you don’t need an eyeglass or contact prescription.

Regardless of when you last saw an optometrist, if you’re seriously considering computer and gaming glasses, an eye exam is where you need to start.

During an eye exam:

  • You can discuss the exact eye issues you’re experiencing and the kind of relief you’re hoping for.
  • Your eyes and vision will be thoroughly assessed, and any unknown vision issues will be identified.
  • Your prescription can be updated if you wear glasses or contacts. Since your vision can change every year, even small inaccuracies in your prescription lenses can contribute to computer vision problems.
  • You can obtain an accurate and customized computer eyeglass prescription.

Know that most over-the-counter computer and gaming glasses lack in complete effectiveness.

To reap the full benefits of computer and gaming glasses, they really should be customized to your individual needs.

Non-prescription glasses to reduce computer eye strain are weaker and won’t provide the accurate vision correction you need for sustained clarity and comfort.

Computer ergonomics play a large role in digital eye strain and the effectiveness of your computer and gaming glasses.

How your computer or gaming station is arranged is important when it comes achieving optimum eye comfort. Your posture and the distance you sit from your digital screen must be ideal, among other things.

By discussing your desk ergonomics with your optometrist, an optimal and custom lens power for your computer glasses can be determined.

It’s best to purchase your computer and gaming glasses from an eye care professional.

In many ways, over-the-counter computer and gaming glasses cannot compare to custom ones.

When you consult with an optometrist and receive a prescription, your glasses are likely to have essential components for maximum viewing comfort, such as:

  • Anti-reflective (anti-glare treatment) coating, as discussed above, to eliminate reflections of light from the front and back surfaces of your lenses.
  • Photochromic lenses to shield your eyes from harmful high-energy visible blue light.
  • Lightly tinted lenses to reduce glare caused by harsh overhead lighting and to enhance contrast.

Additionally, your optometrist can advise on additional eye strain treatment that you may benefit from.

FAQs About Computer and Gaming Glasses

1. How do I calculate a prescription for computer glasses?


While there are an abundance of sources that will tell you a few different variations of ways to arrive at an accurate prescription for computer glasses, the hard truth is almost every source is incorrect and it’s not in your best interest to self-calculate an eyeglass prescription of any kind.

Here’s why:

  • Without the oversight and clinical guidance from a licensed optometrist, a self-calculated computer eyeglass prescription may not take into account your exact vision needs and any eye diseases or conditions that you may have or may be forming since your last eye exam.
  • Purchasing and wearing the wrong prescription can lead to very uncomfortable vision, headaches, blurred vision and much more – worse than you’re already experiencing.
  • Computer and gaming glasses almost always need special lens coatings to be highly effective, so if you’re not well-versed on the different types of lens material and lens coatings, you could be buying glasses that won’t protect your eyes in the ways you need them to.
  • Much more

There is no substitute for a comprehensive, in-person eye exam, and the only truly effective and accurate way to calculate a prescription for computer glasses is to have your optometrist assess your eyes to arrive at the exact prescription you need.

2. Do I need a separate prescription for computer/gaming glasses?


The short answer is: it depends. After a comprehensive, in-person eye exam, your optometrist will be able to understand:

  • When, where and how you work/game (especially pertaining to the lighting situation in your office or home when you’re viewing a digital screen)
  • Your workplace or gaming ergonomics to ensure the glasses will be powerful enough
  • Your current vision needs (especially if you already have a standard eyeglass/contact prescription)

Before settling on one-size-fits all computer/gaming glasses, be sure to consult with your optometrist and be sure to disclose of your work and gaming environment, as your eyes may need more support in one situation versus the other.

3. What is the difference between computer glasses and reading glasses?

There are several differences, but the main takeaways are that computer glasses are specifically designed to deal with the glare of the screen and its harmful blue light.

Reading glasses magnify print so eyes don’t have to work so hard when reading small print on paper. Furthermore, lenses in reading glasses typically don’t have a coating, so they don’t protect your eyes from the glare or harmful blue light of a computer screen.

4. Can computer glasses be worn all the time?

It’s common for people to want to wear their computer/blue light blocking glasses for protection and style. If your eyes don’t need other prescription eyeglasses or contacts to see clearly, there is no harm in wearing your computer glasses all the time. When you buy your glasses from the right source, the lenses usually provide 100% UV light protection, so they can work as a sun defense, too.

5. How do I know if I need computer or gaming glasses?

Digital eye strain symptoms can vary from person-to-person, and largely depend on an individual’s digital screen use and habits. If you are experiencing any of these common symptoms, you may need computer or gaming glasses and should consult with an optometrist to get your eyes checked:

  • Dry eyes
  • Irritated eyes
  • Squinting
  • Blurred vision
  • Shoulder and neck stiffness
  • Headaches
  • Reduced attention span
  • Poor behavior
  • Irritability
  • Frustration
  • Much more

Effective Eye Strain Treatment Isn’t Found Over-the-Counter. For Real Relief, Consult with an Optometrist

Your eyes are vital to your everyday life – including work and gaming. Don’t give your eyes ineffective, standard glasses; come see the eye experts at iCare Vision for a quick and thorough assessment and an accurate prescription to computer or gaming glasses.

Schedule a Computer Vision Treatment appointment, or check out our additional resources on computer and digital screen eye strain:

Read: How Looking at Screens All Day is Affecting Your Eyesight
Read: How to Create the Optimal Work Environment to Reduce Digital Eye Strain

Categories:
infant holding pair of glasses
19Feb 2019

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

Is your child’s vision fully supporting their living & learning needs? Learn about children’s visual development & discover the signs of vision problems in babies, toddlers & children.

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

The moment your child is born, their vision plays a crucial role in their development and overall health.

An infant’s eyes evolve quickly – going from being able to detect light and motion at birth to distinguishing between colors and focusing on small objects around three to four months of age, and gauging distances and depths with greater precision around a year.

From there, the eyes don’t slowdown in progression; they rapidly continue to transform to help your child grow and acquire new skills.

If your child falls behind with expected physical, cognitive, and social development milestones, or they show disinterest in seemingly fun learning experiences, you may wonder why and tirelessly work to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

While often not the first thought as to what’s causing these bumps in the road, your child’s vision could be to blame. Recognizing the signs of vision problems in babies, toddlers or children can help you focus your attention on giving and getting them the exact support their eyes need to truly thrive.

Signs of Vision Problems in Babies

Before your baby left the hospital after birth, his/her vision was checked for general eye health by a pediatrician or physician. Even with a positive screening, your baby may still develop vision problems as they grow.

It’s important to note that from birth to around four months of age, most babies’ eyes occasionally look misaligned – a condition called strabismus. During this time period, this inward crossing or outward drifting motion of the eyes is common and to be expected. During routine health checkups, your baby’s pediatrician will assess his/her eyes and alert you if the strabismus is abnormal.

In addition, since babies grow and change so fast, you may start to notice other concerning signs of vision problems.

Signs that your baby may have a vision problem include:

  • One of your baby’s eyes never opens.
  • One of their eyes moves and the other doesn’t.
  • Your baby squints a lot.
  • Your baby’s eyes seem sensitive to light.
  • Your baby rubs his eyes when he’s not tired.
  • Instead of red-eyes when your baby’s photo is taken, there is always a white spot/white pupils.
  • Your baby’s eye(s) is bulging.
  • Your baby’s eyelid(s) is drooping.
  • One of your baby’s eyes is bigger than the other.
  • One of your baby’s pupils are a different size than the other.
  • Lights, mobiles, and other amusements don’t catch your baby’s attention after one month of age.
  • Your baby has white, grayish-white, or yellow material in the pupil of his eye that makes it appear cloudy.
  • You notice other changes in your baby’s eyes from how they usually look.

If you notice any of these signs, talk with your baby’s doctor immediately.

After your baby is three months of age, alert your baby’s doctor if you notice any of the following:

  • Your baby’s eyes don’t follow or track an object moved from side to side in front of his face.
  • Your baby’s eyes seem to jump or wiggle back and forth.
  • Your baby’s eyes turn way in or out, and stay that way.
  • Your baby seems to consistently tilt his head when he looks at things.

For more information on signs of vision problems in babies, and to learn best practices to support infant/baby vision development, see Your Child’s First Year of Life and Your Child’s Vision as a One-Year-Old in our comprehensive Children’s Visual Development Guide.

Signs of Vision Problems in Toddlers and Children

According to the American Public Health Association, approximately 10% of toddlers and preschoolers have eye or vision problems. As a parent, it’s vital to know that toddlers and preschool-aged children generally will not voice the vision issue(s) they’re experiencing.

With toddlers still so young, they probably don’t know yet that what they are actually seeing and experiencing is wrong and needs to be communicated to you. With this in mind, knowing the signs and symptoms to look for is imperative:

  • Squinting more than usual or during times that don’t warrant squinting
  • Frequent eye rubbing
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Eye focusing problems
  • Eye tracking problems (the ability to follow an object with the eyes)
  • Tilting their head to see something better
  • Short attention span for the child’s age
  • Sitting too close to the TV to see better
  • Holding a book too close to their face/eyes
  • Turning of an eye in or out
  • Abnormal eye alignment or movement
  • Chronic eye redness or tearing
  • Inability to see objects at a distance
  • Difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination when playing, such as with a ball or when bike riding
  • Displaying a disinterest in reading or fun activities, such as avoiding coloring, puzzles and other detailed activities

Good to know: Vision problems, including common ones, such as a lazy eye (amblyopia), may have no warning signs at all. For this reason, among others, it’s important to have your child’s vision checked by a children’s eye doctor. Even if your child cannot read yet, there are special tests that can check your child’s vision.

For more information on signs of vision problems in babies, and to learn best practices to support toddler’s/child’s vision development, see Your Child’s Vision as a Two-Year-Old and Your Child’s Vision as a Three to Five-Year-Old in our comprehensive Children’s Visual Development Guide.

What to Do If Your Child is Complaining of Blurred Vision and a Headache

It can be alarming if your child suddenly complains of blurred vision and/or a headache. Your immediate thoughts may be to have them sit down, relax, and make sure they’re well-hydrated.

It’s important to connect a few dots and recall what your child was doing before they complained of a headache and vision issues.

It’s recommended that they see their pediatrician regardless, as these two occurrences are more than likely caused by a symptom of an unidentified issue.

If they were doing anything that may have caused eye fatigue and/or eyestrain, the head pain and blurred vision could be caused by an underlying ocular problem, such as:

  • Refractive errors: Any need for glasses, for example, nearsighted (myopic), farsighted (hyperopic), or astigmatism.
  • Convergence insufficiency: Difficulty converging both eyes simultaneously to focus on reading.
  • Accommodative insufficiency: Difficulty focusing one eye at a time on reading, thereby requiring reading glasses.
  • Other conditions

Depending on your pediatrician’s exam, they may refer your child to a children’s eye doctor to help diagnose and treat your child.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Children’s Visual Development

When should I get my toddler’s/baby’s eyes checked?


The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that infants get their first comprehensive eye exam between the ages of six and twelve months of age. Additional eye exams should come at age three and before they enter the first grade — around age five or six.

What are the most common eye problems in children?


Common eye problems in children include:

  • Turned eyes (strabismus)
  • Color blindness
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  • Small swelling of the eyelid (chalazion)
  • Lazy eye (amblyopia)
  • Needing strong glasses to help with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) or another refractive error (such as astigmatism or presbyopia)

How do you know if your child needs glasses?


In addition to the signs mentioned above that indicate your child may be experiencing vision problems and need glasses, if your child is displaying behavioral issues or learning difficulties (like the ones listed below), it’s important that your child see a children’s eye doctor as soon as possible.

  • Squinting or reading with one eye shut
  • Problems in school (like exhibiting the same symptoms as ADD or ADHD)
  • Complaints of a headache
  • Complaints of double vision
  • Low reading comprehension

What can I expect at my child’s eye exam?


If your child is one and younger, the doctor will check:

  • The pupils
  • How the eyes move
  • If the eyes are lined up correctly
  • How the eyes react to changes in light and darkness
  • For nearsightedness, meaning objects far away are blurry for your child
  • For farsightedness, meaning things up close are blurry for your child
  • For astigmatism, meaning that your child’s eye shape is causing everything to look blurry to some degree
  • For amblyopia, meaning one eye is weaker than the other

It’s important to note that an early diagnosis of a childhood eye problem or disease is crucial for effective treatment.

If your child is between the ages of two and five, the doctor will check for the above issues again and do a vision screening using:

  • Eye chart tests
  • Pictures
  • Letters
  • The “tumbling E game” (A visual acuity game that measures how well your child sees the form and detail of objects. This game can be done even if your child cannot read yet.)

An experienced children’s eye doctor who is well-versed in working with young patients will make the appointment as fun as possible, helping to alleviate nerves and fears.

Can a child’s vision improve with age?


The short answer is: It depends. It depends on what vision issue your child is contending with. As a child grows, their eyes grow and change as well. It is entirely possible that a child’s vision can improve with age, but, for the best chances of improvement, they need the best possible support. That all starts with regular eye exams with a children’s eye doctor.

The Importance of an Annual Pediatric Eye Exam

To ensure your child’s vision is developing normally and supporting them as they grow and learn, an annual pediatric eye exam is imperative.

As your child’s biggest advocate, you undeniably want them to thrive. Read our guide to Children’s Visual Development to understand where your child’s eyes are at, depending on their age, and how you can help develop their vision.

Read: A Guide to Your Child’s Visual Development

At iCare Vision, it is our ultimate goal to make sure your child’s development, advancement, and confidence is not hindered in any way because of their vision.

We make every experience fun and engaging.

Schedule an appointment today to guarantee your child’s vision is supporting their exact living and learning needs.

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