preschool children can be fine-tuning the vision when they master the complex hand-eye coordination. They can ride bicycles in right direction they want to go while dealing with pedal and steer. For some old preschoolers, they also play more sophisticated sports. Though preschool children who have already developed their vision during infant and toddle years, they are vulnerable to vision problems if they don’t correct some bad habits.

You should make sure whether your children have the following refractive errors. Your kids may be used to sit too close to the TV and sometimes they just close one eye to watch. Some children prefer reading at close range, which can also lead to nearsightedness. Behaviors like squinting and tilting the head to see better are warning signs. Excessive tearing and light sensitivity are warning signs as well. Encountered any of these above situations, it is essential to schedule an appointment with your eye care practitioner.

Vision problems such as farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism are very common in preschool children. Excessive farsightedness can lead to strabismus. For severe crossed eye, a surgery is needed. Some untreated strabismus may cause amblyopia and eventually blindness. Nearsightedness and astigmatism also require correction with glasses. They can both lead to blurry vision.

As children’s visual systems are flexible and elastic at the preschool stage, it is very necessary for children to take a complete eye exam before they enter school. Generally, children should receive an eye exam by the age of 6 months if they don’t have some vision problems or some refractive errors according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). If your kids require corrections for nearsightedness, farsightedness or strabismus, you’d better to arrange an exam every year. Annual prescription changes of eyeglasses or contact lenses are very common in children.

Another important aspect is that you should make sure if your children have received a comprehensive eye exam, not only screenings. Sometimes screenings are not administered by eye care practitioners and may not reflect your kids’ eye condition correctly.

After the eye exam of your kids, you also need to encourage them to wear eyeglasses in proper way. You should explain why they need to wear eyeglasses and give some specific example if necessary. When choosing frames, you should respect your kids’ choice. In addition to the better vision, you also need to pay attention to the comfort of frames. Since the result of eye exams may be influenced by physical condition, it is not wise to visit an eye doctor when your kid is tired or hungry.

Many teens prefer contact lenses to eyeglasses primarily for appearance reasons. They think that they look much better with contact lenses and self-esteem can be established. Another very important reason is the convenience brought by contact lenses. Wearing contact lenses during sports can give teens clearer peripheral vision without worry about the breakage of eyeglasses. Of course, a contact lens may be dislodged or lost, but replacing a contact lens is much cheaper than replacing a pair of glasses. And children spending much more time playing outdoors than adult are vulnerable to harmful UV rays. It is very convenient if they choose contact lenses because they only need to carry a pair of sunglasses. Contacts lenses can also correct astigmatism.

Though some disposable contact lenses make lens care easy, some parents are wondering whether their kids can be responsible for these contact lenses. You can check it by watching your kids whether they need your reminder of everyday trifle. Also you can let your kids in charge of the cost of contact lenses.

The appearance changes with contact lenses include your eye color change. Lightly tinted lenses can modify or enhance your eye color and opaque tints can change your eyes to a completely different color. Some kids prefer contact lenses because they can make their eyes look like cats’ eyes or vampire eyes. Before you wear any contact lens, your eye doctor will first examine your eyes to determine whether you are suitable for contact lens wear. Some colored contact lenses are used for vision correction as well.

Since contact lenses have so many advantages, such as less expensive, relatively healthy and safe, your kid can make his own decision with guidance from parents and an eye doctor.

Vision plays an important role in children’s daily lives and study. With a good vision, children can perform much better. Generally, newborns can see objects only up close. When they are six months old, their visual acuity will be much sharper and they can have more accurate color vision.

Since children’s vision system is developing as they grow, early detection of some vision problems is very essential. As a caring parent, you may have worries such as when your kid should receive his first eye exam and what tests a comprehensive eye exam should include. Generally, your kid should have an eye exam at 6 months old. Vision screening may miss some vision problems.

When you choose eyeglasses or contact lenses for your kid, you’d better to consult the eye doctor. For the protection against harmful UV rays, sunglasses or some eyeglasses with UV protection may be recommended. When your kid uses computer, there are also some suggestions for eye care. Generally, your kid should get enough rest after staying 20-30 minutes in front of the computer.

If your child has a pet, you should take special precautions to eye problems. Dog’s and cat’s dander can cause eye allergies. Other pets such as reptiles and spiders can also cause some eye problems such as inflammation. So you need to pay more attention to potential consequences of your kid’s pet.