You can help protect your child’s eyesight by watching for the warning signs and taking your child to a pediatric eye doctor at the earliest sign of a problem.



Normal Eyes Normal Eyes



Wandering Eyes Wandering Eyes

Wandering Eye

Sometimes a child’s both eyes don’t work together as they should. One eye may be “Lazy” and wander in or out, or up or down (squint or strabismus).The brain receives a different image from each eye. The brain may switch back and forth between the two images, or it may turn off one image. If it turns off one image, the child stops using that eye resulting in a lazy eye (amblyopia). One eye may wander all the time or only when your child is tired, ill, or looking at nearby objects. Infants’ eyes normally wander, but if one eye shows signs of wandering after the age of 2 or 3 months, your child needs a detailed eye checkup. Treatment may involve patching, eye drops, glasses or surgery.

Vision Problems

Sometimes a child cannot see objects that are far away (nearsightedness) or objects that are upclose (Farsightedness). A child can even be so farsighted that both nearby and distant objects are unclear. If the front of the child’s eye is irregularly curved (astigmatism), objects look blurry at all distances.

However, these common childhood vision problems can almost always be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. In some cases, vision problems can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) if not corrected.



If your child has normal vision,

objects are in focus at all distances. If your child has normal vision,objects are in focus at all distances.



If your child is nearsighted,

objects get hazy further away they are. If your child is nearsighted,objects get hazy further away they are.

Infections & Injuries

Eye infections and injuries are common in children. Viral and bacterial infections spread quickly through classrooms and day care centers. Children can also be hit in the eye or get dirt, foreign object in their eyes. Eye infections and injuries need to be treated promptly, as some can cause permanent damage to the eye.

How Does Your Child’s Eye Appear

Anything unusual in the way your child’s eyes appear can be a sign of a problem. Watch for the following:

Eyes that cross or one eye that turns inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards.

One eye that seems different in some way, such as a larger or smaller Pupil.

Eyes that look crusty, swollen, bloodshot or red-rimmed.

Any discharge, bleeding, or red bumps on the eyelids.

A pupil that shows a white rather than a red reflection in a color photograph.