Some children draw outside the lines. Others refuse to read, bump into objects or struggle to copy from the board.

The real issue?
They may not see the world as clearly as you think. Children often assume everyone sees the world the way they do. So they rarely complain and and may not even know it’s a problem.

As an optometrist, I’ve seen children labelled lazy or clumsy due to poor school performance or short attention spans — only to find out their eyes were the issue all along!

Here are nine key signs which means it’s time for a comprehensive eye checkup:

👀 1. Frequent Blinking or Rubbing of eyes

While eye rubbing can be a natural response to tiredness or allergies, excessive rubbing or frequent blinking of eyes may signal:

• Dryness or Eye strain

• Difficulty in focusing

• Uncorrected refractive errors

🤕 2. Frequent Headaches

If your child frequently says "my head hurts" after reading or using devices, it might mean:

• Eye focusing fatigue

• Uncorrected vision

• Poor eye coordination

🏫 3. Difficulty in Seeing Blackboard at School

If your child can’t read the board from a distance, it may indicate Myopia (nearsightedness).

📺 4. Sitting Too Close to the TV or Holding Books Too Near

Kids often compensate for poor vision by moving closer. Watch out for:

• Sitting too close to the TV

• Bringing books or devices near the face

This is another red flag for nearsightedness.

💧 5. Excessive Tearing of Eyes

If your child’s eyes water often especially indoors, it might be:

• Refractive errors

• Blocked tear ducts

• Eye Infections

• Compensatory blinking from strain

🔁 6. Involuntary Eye Movements (Nystagmus)

Does your child’s eyes move side-to-side or in shaky patterns, especially when focusing? This could be nystagmus, which often causes:

• Poor visual clarity

• Light sensitivity

• Head tilting for a “null point” to stabilize their view

👁️ 7. Tilting the Head or Covering One Eye

If your child tilts their head frequently while watching TV or covers one eye while reading, they may be trying to:

• Avoid double vision

• Rely on their stronger eye

• Compensate for a squint, astigmatism or a lazy eye

This can be a sign of amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (muscle imbalance) — both highly treatable if caught early.

📸 8. White Reflection in Camera Flash

Ever noticed a white glow in one eye in flash photos where child's eyes shine in an unusual way?
This could be a sign of:

• Retinoblastoma (eye tumor)

• Cataract

• Coats disease

• Coloboma (Keyhole pupil) — a structural defect in the iris or retina

While rare, these signs should never be ignored. A normal “red glow" is okay — but white is a red flag. Get it checked immediately.

🧠 9. Clumsiness or Poor Hand-Eye Coordination

• If your child bumps into things often, struggles in sports, or has poor handwriting, it might be a depth perception or tracking issue — not just motor coordination. Visual problems can affect balance, catching balls, or even navigating steps.

• If your child skips lines while reading and avoids homework or close-up tasks, it could be a binocular vision problem and not laziness. This may indicate issues like convergence insufficiency or poor visual tracking. These problems are not caught by a regular power check.

🔍 Most vision problems go unnoticed until they affect your child’s learning, behavior, or confidence. The earlier we detect them, the better the outcome.

Book a comprehensive eye exam if you notice any of these signs. Early intervention through glasses, eye exercises, or vision therapy — can make all the difference!

9 Warning Signs Your Child May Have A Vision Problem

“Your child might not speak up, but their eyes could be asking for help.”

6/4/2025 - 2 min read