Vision Problems

Also known as: eye problems, refractive errors, blurred vision, halos, blind spots.

What are vision problems?

By 12-16 weeks infants’ eyesight allows them to see clearly and from further away. Over the following year, infants’ eye body/hand coordination improves with long distance judgement becoming more accurate. Usually eye problems tend to present between 18 months and 4 years of age. While a variety of different problems and conditions may occur, two are common: a crossed or wandering eye and one eye focuses differently to the other (for example one eye is more farsighted than the other). School aged children frequently have vision problems which include focus and alignment disorders (like refractive errors, amblyopia-“lazy eye”, and strabismus) and eye diseases (like conjunctivitis, cataracts, and color blindness).

What causes vision problems?

Causes of vision problems can vary widely. Some children are born with vision problems, and they may be passed down from their parents. Others occur over time due to other medical conditions or injuries.

What are the symptoms of vision problems? 

Vision or sight problems may present with blurry vision, squinting, difficulty reading or tracking an object, light sensitivity, seeing halos or “floaters” in the field of vision or loss of vision (sitting too close to the TV or inability to see the blackboard), chronic tearing or redness of eye, learning difficulties and others.

What are vision problem care options? 

Treatments range widely depending on the nature of the vision problem. Treatments can range from eye drops to corrective lenses to surgery. Some vision problems cannot be corrected.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 6/21/2019 2:22:49 AM