General Eye Care and Safety for Children
Ophthalmology/Eye Clinic
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All children should have their eyes examined by an eye doctor by the age of 4. However, if your child has any signs of vision problems, they should see a doctor right away. If it is not taken care of early, it can result in lifelong vision problems.
Signs of Vision Problems
In Babies:
- Eyes shake or vibrate
- Stares at lights
- Eyes cross, turn out, or drift. Does not stop by 3 months of age.
- Does not look at bright toys or faces by 3 months of age
- Abnormal or uneven, red/orange color pupils
In Children:
- Shut or cover eye(s)
- Eyes that burn or itch
- Squint, blink, and rub the eye(s) often
- Headaches or tiredness after doing up close work
- Tilt their head up, down, or to the side when looking at objects
- Get styes (small, painful pimples on the eyelids) often
- Excessive redness or water of the eye(s)
- Cloudiness on the front of the eye or inside the eye
- Often has red eyes without a known cause
- Eyelids are stuck together when your child wakes up or there is crust in the eyelids or eyelashes
Eye Safety Tips
- Avoid sharp, broken toys and objects
- Wear sport goggles and sunglasses
- Do not play around lawn mowing and fireworks
- Avoid BB, pellet, NERF®, and dart guns
- Keep chemicals, sprays, and laundry/dishwashing pods locked up and out of reach
General Eye Care and Safety for Children (PDF), Arabic (PDF), Nepali (PDF), Somali (PDF), Spanish (PDF)
HH-IV-62 12/82, Revised 3/22 Copyright 1982 Nationwide Children’s Hospital