Possible indications of a vision impairment
The following signs could be an early indication that your child may have a vision impairment.
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Baby
Look out for the following signs
- Are your baby’s eyes red, inflamed, or itchy?
- Are the eyes excessively watery?
- Does your baby rub their eyes excessively?
- Are the eye lids puffy or swollen?
- Do your baby’s eyes wobble or are they constantly in motion?
- Is there anything unusual about how the eye looks?
- Is the structure of your baby’s eye unusual?
- Does one or both of your baby’s eyes appear cloudy?
- In photographs, do your baby’s eyes look white?
- When looking at something is your baby’s head posture unusual?
- Does bright light cause any discomfort?
- Does your baby fail to make eye contact?
- Does your baby fail to smile at people?
- Are you aware of a family member with a vision impairment?
- Does your baby poke their eyes?
Toddler or young child
Look out for the following signs
- Does your child walk into things, such as doorframes, coffee tables?
- Does your child have difficulty with steps and stairs?
- Does your child have poor hand-eye co-ordination, such as difficulty throwing, catching, kicking, tripping over or bumping into things, or are they unsteady on their feet?
- Does your child sit close to things they wish to see, such as the television?
- Has your child’s behaviour changed recently?
- Does your child complain of difficulty seeing in the dark or in dim lighting?
- Does your child complain when in bright light?
- Does your child blink excessively, or experience dizziness or headaches?
At school
Look out for the following signs- Is your child reluctant to play games or join in activities?
- Does your child have a short attention span? Are they withdrawn, or slower to develop than their peers?
- Does your child squint, frown or peer at school work?
- Does your child close or cover one eye when looking at their work?
- Does your child’s head turn to follow a line across the page when reading?
- Does your child hold their work very close, or bend over work?
- Is there unusual head posture or does your child hold their work at an unusual angle?
- Does your child have general reading difficulties, such as reversing letters, omitting words, losing their place, or missing out words and lines when reading?
- Does your child write in excessively large letters and not on the line, using a finger to keep the place on the page?
- Does your child experience unusual fatigue after a visual task, possibly complaining that work sheets are too small or too faint?
- Does your child work slowly? At these times, do your child’s eyes appear red?
- Does your child complain that they can’t see the classroom board?
- Does your child talk of restricted vision?
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