It can be uncommon for teens to talk about their vision problems, or any problems for that matter. Sometimes it’s fear of something being wrong or embarrassment around wearing glasses. And sometimes they may not even know they have a vision problem. So how do you know if your teen needs eyewear? Here are some symptoms of eye conditions you should watch out for that can highlight signs that your teen may need glasses.
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Blurred Vision
Your teen may outright mention they are experiencing blurred or fuzzy vision. If it’s being experienced often and when they are doing their homework, reading books, using devices or looking at signs in the distance you should call your doctor and schedule an eye appointment for your teen.
Sitting Close When Watching or Reading
If you notice that your teen needs to read their school books less than arm’s length away, or are sitting close to the TV or laptop, this is a sign they may need glasses to correct near-sightedness.
Uses One Eye to See
When one eye is weaker than the other, you will notice your teen closing one eye to help them read and see better. This could be an early sign of astigmatism or a structural eye problem.
Constant Eye Rubbing
Rubbing of the eyes may indicate eyestrain or fatigue but only a trip to the eye doctor can help indicate if glasses are needed or if there’s an underlying medical condition, infection or allergies.
Squinting
Another tell-tale sign of an eye condition is squinting. Squinting happens when you try to compensate for poor vision. By contracting your muscles, the eyes attempt to reduce the size of the blurred image by limiting the amount of light that enters into the eye. And it is often a sign of lazy eye or either farsightedness or near-sightedness. An eye exam can provide a better indication into the condition.
Complaining of Headaches
The need to constantly focus when experiencing blurry vision can cause eyestrain. And constant strain can eventually lead to intense headaches and even migraines in your teen.
Seeing Halos
Halos can often form around light when your eyes are unable to focus correctly. If your teen mentions they are seeing circles around car lights or light bulbs they may need glasses.
Difficulty Concentrating
Although this sign isn’t always obvious, having difficulty concentrating can point to eye problems. Sometimes a drop in their school grades can be related to more than behavioural or learning development issues. Maybe they are having problems seeing the blackboard at school, or are having issues concentrating when they read. Issues with concentrating could indicate a vision problem like astigmatism or lazy eye.
Your teen’s vision is still developing and needs to be addressed to avoid any future eye conditions. If it’s been a while since your teen has seen an eye doctor, schedule an appointment today to ensure their sight and eye health is at it’s best.