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The first few years of life are critical to the development of normal
vision. Normal vision depends on normal function of the eye and
the area of the brain devoted to vision. The best chance for normal
vision exists when eye diseases or vision problems are diagnosed
before the fifth year of life. Parents are frequently the first
to notice an eye problem. Call your doctor if you notice any of
the following...
- Your child's eyes
do not move together most of the time, or one eye frequently turns
out or in. (All babies cross their eyes occasionally in the first
few months.)
- The pupils of your
child's eyes are of unequal size.
- Your child holds objects
close in order to see them.
- Your child's eyes
flutter from side to side or up and down.
- Your child rubs his
or her eyes frequently.
- Your child squints
to see or turns his or her head to one side. ú Your child
has redness in either eye that persists for several days.
- Your child has redness,
swelling, crusting, or discharge affecting one or both eyes and
lasting more than 24 hours.
- Your child's eyes
appear to be crossed, turned out, or not focusing together.
- One or both of your
child's eyelids appear to droop.
- One or both of your
child's eyes appear to bulge.
- Your child has an
eye injury..
What is nearsighted
or farsighted mean?
Children who are nearsighted have difficulty seeing objects that
are far away Nearsightedness is the most common vision problem in
young children. Nearsightedness is inherited and is usually not
diagnosed until after 3-4 years of age. Nearsightedness is not caused
by reading too much or by reading in dim light.
Children who are farsighted
must focus a bit harder to see objects up close but rarely need
glasses unless the condition is severe.
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