Children's Vision: What Parents Need To Know
Written by experts in children's vision, this collection of articles guides you through essential information about your child's vision and eye health.
Browse the list of articles below, or read our Doctor Q&A on children's vision problems.
An overview of children's vision and eye health topics that every parent should know about. Also read our Eye Doctor Q&A on children's vision problems.
How to reduce your child's risk of computer-related vision problems.
Not all congenital cataracts require surgery, but some do. Learn what you can do if your child was born with cataracts.
This shareable infographic shows why some kids develop myopia, why it's a big problem and how you can help stop it.
What you should know about the causes and risk factors of childhood myopia.
Why you should be concerned if your child is getting more nearsighted year after year — and what you can do about it.
Amblyopia (or "lazy eye") is a vision development problem in infants and young children that can lead to permanent vision loss. Learn the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Questions about children's vision problems are answered by eye doctors on AllAboutVision.com's Editorial Advisory Board.
Learn the warning signs of a preschool vision problem. Also, when to schedule your child's first eye exam.
Up to 25 percent of schoolchildren may have vision problems that can affect their ability to learn. Read how to keep your child from being in this group.
Videos Explain Eye And Vision Topics To Kids
The National Eye Institute has created a series of videos for kids called "Ask a Scientist."
The videos are fun to watch and easy to understand. They show eye doctors and other NEI scientists explaining animal eyes, optical illusions, how crying affects the eyes, what eyes do when we're asleep and much more.
You and your kids can watch the videos here.
A brief primer on what you should know when your teen wants to start wearing contact lenses.
Does your child avoid reading? Is he struggling in school? Find out if an undetected learning-related vision problem is to blame.
This inherited form of macular degeneration can cause central vision loss in children, who may need special instruction in how to use low vision aids.
Which toys are eye-safe and which are better to avoid.
Dr. Heiting names six types of toys that pose a high risk of children's eye injuries.
CRT Contact Lenses for Children with Myopia - Sponsored Section
Learn about Corneal Reshaping CRT Contact Lenses that are worn during sleep, then removed in the morning for clear vision all day.
How you and your child can choose eyeglass frames that will hold up during playtime.
Are your children wearing protective eyewear for sports and other activities? Read why they should.
Learn to make smarter choices about frames and lenses for your children.
Study Finds Farsightedness Associated With Other Children's Vision Problems
Preschoolers with significant hyperopia (farsightedness) have a greater risk of other significant vision problems, according to a study.
Correcting early childhood hyperopia can help avoid other vision problems such as strabismus and amblyopia (lazy eye).
Researchers at The Ohio State University College of Optometry and four other U.S. optometry schools evaluated the results of children's eye exams performed for more than 4,000 Head Start preschoolers ages 3 to 5 as part of the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) Study. For purposes of the study, children with greater than +3.25 diopters (D) of farsightedness were considered "hyperopic" and those with +3.25 D or less were considered "without hyperopia."
Compared with children without hyperopia, children with farsightedness greater than +3.25 D had a significantly higher risk of amblyopia (34.5 percent vs. 2.8 percent) and strabismus (17.0 percent vs. 2.2 percent). And more severe levels of hyperopia were associated with even higher risk of amblyopia and strabismus. For example, children with hyperopia of +5.00 D or greater had a 51.5 percent chance of amblyopia and 32.9 percent chance of strabismus.
Children with hyperopia greater than +3.25 D also had a higher risk of anisometropia (26.9 percent vs. 5.1 percent) and astigmatism (29.4 percent vs. 10.3 percent) compared with children with farsightedness of +3.25 D or less. They also had reduced scores on stereoacuity tests, compared with scores of preschoolers "without hyperopia."
The study authors concluded the presence and magnitude of hyperopia among preschoolers were associated with higher risk of amblyopia, strabismus, anisometropia and astigmatism. Significant hyperopia also was associated with reduced stereoacuity — even among farsighted children with no amblyopia or strabismus, they said.
A full report of the study appeared in the April 2014 issue of Optometry and Vision Science.
Page updated September 2016