How can you tell if your children are nearsighted? One indication is, when they look at an object, they tend to go up very close to it. For example, sitting very close to the television screen, or bending their heads down so far when reading, they almost touch the book. They may squint their eyes or tilt their heads when looking at distant objects, or some may even be cross-eyed.
         If your child displays any of these signs, don’t wait too long. You should take them to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. The sooner their eyes are examined, the better. Most parents are under the false impression that wearing spectacles will increase their children’s eyesight problems. The fact is, getting the help from vision correction tools as early as possible, such as spectacles, will allow them to learn about the world around them with better and clearer vision.

Children and Crossed-Eyes (Strabismus)

            Have you ever noticed your children’s eyes? Are they in perfect alignment when looking straight, or are they slightly or extremely crossed? Crossed-eyes, or strabismus, result from the inability of the eye muscles in each eye to function in balance. This may result in the eyes being pulled inwards towards each other, outwards away from each other, or even upwards or downwards. Sometimes a child who has a rather flat nose bridge may seem to be cross-eyed, but is in fact not. If you are not sure, the best way to find out is to see a pediatric ophthalmologist.
         The sooner a cross-eyed child is treated, the better. If this condition is left untreated, apart from the unpleasant appearance, the child will not be able to use both eyes at the same time and will not be able to see the world in 3-D like the average person. Crossed-eyes could result in one eye becoming lazy, meaning that it will never function at a normal level. If you suspect that your child may be cross-eyed, you should immediately take your child to see an ophthalmologist.