Checklist of vision problems
80 % of what a child learns in school is through their EYES. Not only is their EYESIGHT important but there are various VISUAL SKILLS equally important for the learning process. Some of these Visual Skills include eye movement, eye fixation and coordination, eye focusing, eye hand coordination, visual memory, visual perception, and directionality. Therefore, parents and teachers should watch if children exhibit any of the signs or symptoms listed below and have the child seen by an eye care professional.
What to watch for on the eyes
- Reddened eyes or lids
- Eyes tearing often
- Mattering on eyelids and eye lashes
- Frequent swollen areas on the lids
Eye Complaints
- Headaches
- Eyes burning
- Eyes itching
- Print blurs while reading
- Letters or words doubling
- Words running together while reading
When a child reads watch for
- Loses place often and has to re-read
- Uses finger to keep place
- Skips over words often (words such as: is, go, the, etc.)
- Substitutes words for the actual word present
- Short attention span
- Wants to hold book very close to face
When a child is writing watch for
- Writes up- or downhill
- Repeats letters within words
- Omits letters, numbers or phrases
- Misaligns numbers vertically
- Reverses letters (b/d and p/q)
- Covers or closes one eye
- Holds pencil near the tip
- Gets head close to page
- Makes mistakes when copying from chalkboard
- Tilts head to the right or left shoulder
- Unable to stay on ruled lines
Other problems to watch for
- Repeatedly confuses right and left
- Child says he/she doesn't like to read
- Avoids reading and writing tasks
- Blinks, squints, rubs eyes frequently
- Says eyes hurt