12 signs your child may need glasses
By See Better · Updated · 5 min read
The short answer
The clearest signs that a child may need glasses are squinting, sitting very close to the TV or holding books close, frequent headaches, rubbing the eyes, covering or closing one eye, and losing their place when reading. Children seldom complain about poor vision, so if you notice any of these, book an eye test.
Key points
- Children rarely say they cannot see. They assume everyone sees the way they do.
- Watch behaviour: squinting, sitting close, head tilting and avoiding close work.
- Trouble at school is often the first visible sign of a vision problem.
- An eye that turns, or a white glow in the pupil, needs prompt attention.
Why children do not tell you
An adult whose sight changes notices the difference. A child has nothing to compare with. If the board has always been blurry, or words have always swum on the page, that is simply how the world looks to them. Children also adapt cleverly: they move closer, tilt their head, memorise instead of reading. So the signs you are looking for are in what your child does, not in what they say.
Signs you can see at home
1. Squinting
Narrowing the eyes sharpens blurry vision for a moment. A child who squints at the TV, at signs or at you across the room is working around blur.
2. Sitting close to the TV or holding books near the face
This is the classic sign of short-sightedness. Distant things are blurry, so the child closes the gap. See short-sightedness in children.
3. Covering or closing one eye
A child who shuts one eye to read or watch TV may see much better with one eye than the other, or may be seeing double.
4. Tilting or turning the head
Holding the head at an angle can be a way of lining up eyes that do not point in quite the same direction, or of finding the clearest view when there is astigmatism.
5. Rubbing the eyes or blinking a lot
Everyone rubs tired eyes at bedtime. Rubbing during reading, homework or screen time suggests eye strain. Persistent rubbing with itching may be an allergy.
6. Headaches or sore eyes
Complaints of a sore head or tired eyes, especially in the afternoon or after school, can come from the effort of focusing.
7. An eye that turns in or out
One eye that drifts, even only when your child is tired, should always be checked. It may be a squint, which can lead to a lazy eye if it is not treated.
8. Clumsiness
Frequently bumping into things, misjudging steps or struggling to catch a ball can point to poor depth perception or blurry vision.
Signs that show up at school
9. Losing their place when reading
Skipping lines, rereading or following the words with a finger long after classmates have stopped can mean the eyes are not tracking or focusing well.
10. Avoiding reading and close work
A child who finds reading physically tiring will avoid it. This is easily mistaken for laziness or lack of interest.
11. Copying from the board incorrectly
Mistakes when copying, or needing to look up many times, can mean the board is blurry or that changing focus between far and near is slow.
12. Marks or concentration that drop
A short attention span for visual tasks, or results that slip without another explanation, deserves an eye test before other conclusions are drawn. Read more in can poor eyesight affect school performance?
Signs that need prompt attention
See a doctor or optometrist without delay if you notice a white, grey or yellow glow in your child's pupil in photographs, an eye that has suddenly started turning, a drooping eyelid that covers the pupil, eyes that are constantly watery and very sensitive to light, or any eye injury.
What to do if you recognise these signs
Book a full eye test. It is quick and painless, and children do not need to be able to read: optometrists use pictures, shapes and lights to test young children. Tell the optometrist exactly what you have seen and when it happens. If your child's teacher has raised concerns, mention those too.
If the test shows your child needs glasses, most children take to them quickly once they realise how much more they can see. Let them help choose the frame. A child who likes their glasses wears them.
If you are not sure whether your child is due for a test in any case, see when a child should have their first eye test.
An eye test at home
See Better tests children's eyes at home across Gauteng, so there is no waiting room and no unfamiliar clinic. An eye test costs R450, and brothers, sisters and parents can be tested in the same visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is sitting close to the TV bad for a child's eyes?
Sitting close does not damage the eyes. It can be a sign that a child is short-sighted and sits close in order to see clearly, so it is worth having their eyes tested.
At what age do children usually need glasses?
Any age. Long-sightedness and astigmatism are often found in preschool children. Short-sightedness most commonly appears between about 6 and 13 and tends to increase through the teenage years.
Can a child grow out of needing glasses?
Sometimes. Mild long-sightedness often reduces as a child grows. Short-sightedness does not go away with age and usually increases until the late teens. Your optometrist will monitor the changes.
Will wearing glasses make my child's eyes lazy or weaker?
No. Glasses do not weaken a child's eyes. In childhood, the correct glasses are what allow vision to develop properly, and leaving a child uncorrected carries the real risk.
This article is general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an eye examination. If you are worried about your eyes or your sight, see an optometrist or a doctor. Sudden loss of vision, eye injuries and severe eye pain are emergencies.
