Vision Screening For Children
10 Signs Your Child May Need Vision Screening

More than 10 million children (one in four) in the United States will go back to school this fall with an undetected vision problem that can interfere with learning.

Nearly 80% of what a child learns is obtained visually. Research indicates that 70% of the 2 million school-age children who have difficulty in reading have some form of visual impairment, such as ocular motor, perceptual or binocular dysfunction.

Here are ten signs that might be seen in a child with vision difficulties:

1. Squinting, closing or covering one eye
2. Holding a book close to the face
3. Losing his/her place while reading
4. Headache, nausea or dizziness
5. Excessive clumsiness
6. Tilting the head to one side
7. Frequent daydreaming
8. Using a finger as a place mark while reading
9. Performing below potential
10. Rubbing eyes repeatedly

For additional information, please visit the following MedicineNet.com areas:

• Eye Care Center
• Eye Glasses, Sunglasses and Magnifying Glasses
• Poor Eyesight Can Lead To Bad Grades
• Tips for Choosing the Right Sunglasses

VCA is offering a free brochure and a self-test to determine if a child or other family member may be in need of comprehensive eye exam. Consumers can get more information via VCA's Web site (www.checkyearly.com).

This information has been provided with the kind permission of the Vision Council of America.

Last Editorial Review: 9/2/2003