Signs and Symptoms of Eye Problems in Children
For children, eyesight is important because good vision is often related to learning. As with adults, regular eye examinations are important to maintain proper eye health, since some serious eye disorders produce no early warning symptoms.
Any of the following signs or symptoms may be indicative of a number of serious eye problems. If your child experiences any of the following, see an ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) as soon as possible:
- Pain in or around the eye
- One eye turns in toward the nose or wanders out toward the ear, either constantly or occasionally, eyes that do not appear to look in the same direction
- Child tilts or turns head when looking intently
- One eye closes occasionally, especially when the child is outside
- Eyes shake or vibrate
- Child covers one eye to look at things
- Squints or squeezes eyes nearly closed to see
- Cannot identify things across the room or farther away
- Frequent rubbing of eye
- Discharge from eyes (stuck together in the morning)
- Droopy eyelids
- A white pupil in either or both eyes
- Eyes tearing or wet-looking, when not crying
- Any swelling or lump in or around the eyes or eyelids
- Any difference in size, shape or color of any part of the eye (i.e. pupil) or eyelids
- Redness of the eye
- Functionally one-eyed
