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New research from the National Institutes of Health suggests 13.9 million Americans don’t see as well as they should – because they lack needed eyeglasses.

Experts believe eye problems can be especially hard to spot in kids.

16-year-old Krysta Janas, for example, started having vision problems in the sixth grade.

“Well, I think one of my teachers contacted my mom,” explains Krysta, “and said, like, I was squinting a bit to look at the board.”

Experts believe up to five percent of children have uncorrected vision problems.

One reason? Kids don’t speak up.

“They don’t realize they are having a problem,” says pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Stephen Lipsky. “They assume that because their vision is the way it has always been, that it’s normal – because it’s normal for them.”

And, he says, some of these kids will even pass a vision test.

“The main culprit for why these children get missed is they become what we call professional peekers,” says Dr. Lipsky. “They go to a screening exam at school or at the pediatrician’s office, and they are asked to cover up their good eye. They know they don’t see well out of the weak eye, and what they will do is they will come up with strategies in order to peek.”

Warning signs that a child is having trouble seeing include squinting, problems in school, and a family history of wearing glasses.

Still, eye conditions can be hard to spot.

“Well you feel really stupid,” says Krysta’s mom Joanne, “because you think, ‘oh, I should have noticed that with my child.’  But sometimes it’s really subtle, and parents might not know it.”

Doctors recommend teens get their vision checked at least every three to four years.

“The sooner we find a child with a problem the better,” says Dr. Lipsky, “but the good news is that even if we do find them later on, depending on the problem, most of the patients, we can improve their vision.”

Krysta avoided wearing glasses for years.  Today, she is getting contacts because she wants a driver’s license.

“On the highway when I change lanes I have to turn all the way around,” says Krysta, “and then I kind of swerve a little bit, I guess. My parents complain about it.”

What We Need To Know

• Common eye problems for children include strabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), color blindness, and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism). If there is a family history of vision problems, or if your child appears to have any of the above conditions, speak promptly with your eye doctor about how often your child should be examined. (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
• Parents may have to sell children on wearing glasses. Let your child pick out the frames. Say nice things about your child’s glasses, and speak to siblings beforehand, to keep teasing to a minimum.  (American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Get your child the best lenses possible. For most children, the ideal lens is made of polycarbonate. It’s strong, lightweight and shatterproof, which makes it a safe choice for toddlers and athletes. Polycarbonate does scratch easily, so a scratch-resistant coating is usually a good idea. (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
• Some infants will simply refuse to wear the glasses and pull them off. Don’t fight it – instead be persistent. Put the glasses on the baby and then stage some sort of distraction. If the baby pulls them off again, set them aside and wait awhile before trying again.  (American Academy of Ophthalmology)

Resources

• Journal of the American Medical Association, Prevalence of Visual Impairment in the United States
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• National Institutes of Health

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