Vision Loss

Vision loss means that a person’s eyesight is not correct to a “normal” level. Vision loss can vary greatly among children and can be caused by many things.

Vision loss can be caused by damage to the eye itself, by the eye being shaped incorrectly, or even by a problem in the brain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that children should be checked for vision problems by an ophthalmologist, optometrist, pediatrician or other trained specialist at these ages:

·         Newborn to 3 months

·         6 months to 1 year

·         About 3 years

·         About 5 years.

Having your child’s vision checked is especially important if someone in your family has had vision problems.

A child with vision loss might:

·         Close or cover one eye

·         Squint the eyes or frown

·         Complain that things are blurry or hard to see

·         Have trouble reading or doing other close-up work

·         Hold objects close to eyes in order to see

·         Blink more than usually or seem cranky when doing close-up work

·         Have one eye that looks out or cross

·         One or both eyes could be watery with one or both eyelids looking red-rimmed, crusted or swollen.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you think your child may have vision problems. The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities can also help at www.nichcy.org/states.htm. More information is also available from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd or www.cdc.gov/actearly or 1-800-232-4636.