Signs & Symptoms of a Vision Problem

Unfortunately, many people do not recognize that they have a vision problem. Most certainly, children rarely report they are having visual difficulties.

There are physical clues that point to possible vision problems, but surprisingly, many of the symptoms that would indicate a person is having vision problems seem entirely unrelated to vision. Yet, these symptoms are manifesting as a direct result of a vision problem. 

If you recognize any of the following signs and symptoms in yourself or your child, call our office to schedule an appointment.

Performance Clues

  • Avoidance of near work
  • Frequent loss of place when reading
  • Omitting, inserting, or rereading words in a paragraph
  • Confusing similar looking words
  • Failure to recognize same word in next sentence
  • Poor reading comprehension
  • Difficulty copying from the board
  • Poor handwriting, misaligns numbers
  • Letter or word reversals after first grade
  • Difficulty following directions

Physical Clues

  • Red, sore, tearing, or itching eyes
  • Jerky eye movements, one eye turning in or out
  • Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking
  • Blurred or intermittent double vision
  • Headaches, dizziness, or nausea after reading
  • Head tilting or closing or blocking one eye when reading
  • Exaggerated head movement when reading
  • Very close reading distance
  • Inconsistent or poor at sports

Behavior Clues

  • Smart, but struggling in school
  • Low self-esteem, poor self-image
  • Temper flare-ups, aggressiveness, emotional outbursts
  • Frequent crying, over-emotional
  • Short attention span, easily
  • Distracted easily, can’t concentrate
  • Fatigue after school or work
  • Frustration, stress
  • Irritability
  • Withdrawn, lacks confidence, won’t try

Child Appears to Be:

  • Slow Learner
  • Lazy
  • Behavioral Problem
  • Bright Underachiever or Working Below Potential
  • Immature
  • Struggling with Behavioral Issues

Child Has Been Diagnosed

  • Dyslexia
  • Attention Deficit Disorder, ADHD
  • Processing Disorder
  • Non-Verbal Learning Disorder
  • Learning Disability
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Sensory Processing Disorder

Keep in mind that even one of the symptoms above can be a sign that your child may have a vision problem at the root of his or her difficulties.  To determine the full depth of the vision problem schedule a developmental vision evaluation in our office.