Facts About Vision Loss in Children

What is vision loss?

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

What causes loss of vision?

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. Babies can be born unable to see, and vision loss can occur anytime during a person’s life.

When should my child be checked?

• 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.

What are some signs of vision loss?

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, or hold objects close to eyes in order to see
• blink more than usual or seem cranky when doing close-up work (such as looking at books)

One eye of a child with vision loss could look out or cross. One or both eyes could be watery, and one or both of the child’s eyelids could also look red-rimmed, crusted, or swollen.

What can I do if I think my child may have vision loss?

To find out who to speak to in your area, you can contact the Parent Center in your state.

Treating vision problems early may protect your child’s sight, and teaching children with severe vision loss how to function as early as possible can help them reach their full potential.