Signs of Eye Problems in Children

Children’s eyes change very quickly, and eye problems may happen at any age. It's important to follow your child's healthcare provider's advice on vision screenings. Along with screenings, watch how your child acts and listen to what they say. Below are some signs that your child may have an eye problem. Talk with your child’s provider if you see any of these signs.

Physical signs

Look for physical signs on or around your child’s eyes. There may be a problem if your child has:

One or both eyes that cross (look toward the center of the face)
One or both eyes that turn in, out, up, or down
Crusty, swollen, bloodshot, or red-rimmed eyes
Eyes that water a lot
Discharge, bleeding, or red bumps on the eyelids
A pupil that looks white instead of red in a color photo
A difference between the two eyes (for example, if one has a larger or smaller pupil)

Behaviors

Watch how your child acts. Some simple behaviors may be signs of an eye problem. These include:

Closing one eye to look at something
Turning or tilting the head to see
Squinting to see
Not seeing things you point out
Holding objects close to the face to see them
Sitting very close to the TV
Blinking or rubbing one or both eyes a lot
Running into objects
Falling down at night or in places that are not well-lit

Comments

Listen to what your child says. Some comments can signal an eye problem. Children may have an eye problem if they say that:

They can’t see the board at school
Things look blurry or funny
Their eyes itch, burn, or feel scratchy
They were hit in the eye
They feel something in their eye
They feel pain in or around one or both eyes
Light makes their eyes hurt

Headaches and dyslexia

Head pain (headache) may or may not be caused by eye problems. And not recognizing letters and words (dyslexia) isn't often due to eye problems. If your child has headaches or dyslexia, an eye exam can be done to rule out eye or vision concerns.