How vision issues affect daily life
In our last blog, we shared that 1 in 5 children may have an undiagnosed visual issue. These problems don’t just affect attention—they can also impact how a child sees and functions in their world.
Why vision issues are often missed
Visual symptoms are commonly overlooked at home and in schools. Many parents and educators simply don’t know what to look for—and surprisingly, many healthcare professionals aren’t equipped with the right tools or knowledge either.
That’s why it’s essential to understand the common signs of visual problems and know when to take action.
Common signs of visual issues in children
Watch out for these signs of vision, focusing or tracking issues:
- Blurred vision at near or far distances
- Complaints of intermittent double vision
- Squinting or narrowing the eyes
- Eye strain or tiredness
- Frequent headaches
- Rubbing the eyes often
- Shutting one eye or tilting the head
- Holding print very close
- One eye turning in or out
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Struggles with reading or learning to read
- Skipping or mixing up words while reading
- Difficulty recognising familiar faces from afar
Why early diagnosis matters
If a child has a visual issue, they often won’t realise something’s wrong. They may think what they’re experiencing is normal. We hear this all the time:
“The words always blur like that… isn’t that normal?”
That’s why a comprehensive paediatric eye exam is so important if there are any concerns. The earlier we detect visual problems, the easier it is to support learning, concentration, and overall wellbeing.
Urgent symptoms that require immediate attention
Some symptoms point to acute eye issues or infections. These should be addressed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist on the same day—not the next.
Seek immediate care if you or your child experiences:
- Severe or sudden eye pain
- Sudden changes in vision or haziness
- Flashes of light or a surge in floaters
- Rainbows or halos around lights
- A curtain-like shadow appearing in one eye
- Sensitivity to light or glare
- Red, swollen eyes
- White patches in the pupil
- Itchiness, burning, or unusual discharge
How we can help at Pezzimenti Nixon Optometrists
Our team has years of experience in detecting both routine and acute visual issues. We’re trained to identify infections, eye injuries, and developmental vision problems—early detection makes all the difference.
If you’re unsure whether symptoms are serious, don’t wait. Contact our team today. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
