We rely heavily on our eyes for our daily life. We have the chance to experience a lot of things thanks to our vision. Sight plays a big role in a lot of people’s careers, hobbies, and relationships.
Thanks to modern technology, more people have the chance to enjoy their sight. An estimated 164 million adult Americans wear some form of vision correction. And that number is steadily rising.
More and more people are relying on glasses to see better. And because of just how advanced technology has become, vision problems are easier to detect at a young age.
It’s easier to diagnose vision problems at an early age. For example, doctors are able to diagnose farsightedness at ages as young as infancy. This has given rise to babies and toddlers wearing prescription glasses.
Parents are always on the lookout for any signs of vision problems in children. If you suspect your toddler might have issues in their vision, then it’s time to visit the eye clinic. But if you are on the fence about glasses and giving one to toddlers, read on and learn more about vision and your toddler.
Myths About Glasses and Vision
Glasses have existed for more than centuries. People have been wearing glasses since the 13th century. But even in the modern age, there are still some prevalent myths that surround eyeglasses.
The most common myth about glasses is that wearing them will make the person dependent and have worse eyesight. That’s why some people rarely wear their glasses to avoid being “dependent” on them.
But people with prescription glasses should wear them. Their glasses help them see and correct their vision.
There are a lot of cases of children outgrowing their glasses when they get older. However, this can only happen if they actively wear their glasses. Toddlers and children must wear their eyeglasses until their ophthalmologist says otherwise.
Why Should My Toddler Wear Glasses?
Now that we have the myths out of the way: let’s talk about facts.
Babies don’t have the best eyesight when they are first delivered. But at around 2 years, babies should be able to see things like adults do. However, some babies and toddlers can suffer from poor vision at an early age.
Glasses are crucial in shaping and developing a toddler’s vision. They improve sight and a toddler’s well-being.
Having vision problems isn’t only an issue in the eye. Eye conditions can also cause different physical symptoms that can be uncomfortable and painful. Certain conditions can cause dizziness, migraines, and a loss of balance and coordination.
Asides from improving a toddler’s vision and general health, glasses have other benefits. Glasses can correct lazy or misaligned eyes. They can also serve as a protection for toddlers with poor vision and sensitive eyes.
Signs That My Toddler Needs Glasses
Ophthalmologists can give prescription glasses to toddlers who need them. Not every toddler can be prescribed glasses. Toddlers must undergo screening and check-ups to know why they need eyeglasses.
Doctors are the only ones who can tell what condition toddlers have. But toddlers can exhibit some signs of poor vision, which can alert parents at home. Here are some signs that your toddler might need to have their eyes checked.
1. Squinting Their Eyes
Toddlers with vision problems have a tendency to squint their eyes. It can be a sign of a refractive error, making it harder to focus on an image. Squinting can give temporary ease and clarity to toddlers’ vision.
2. A Lack of Eye Contact
Toddlers who don’t respond to eye contact or looks the other way may have visual issues. A lack of eye contact may also be a sign of blindness, cognitive delay, or autism. Pediatrician evaluation is a must.
3. Head Tilting and Eye Covering
Toddlers with eye impairments may tilt their heads or cover one eye. This can temporarily make vision clearer. This can be a sign of a misaligned or lazy eye.
4. Headaches and Pain
As briefly mentioned earlier, headaches and pain can be symptoms of vision impairment. It is caused by overexertion of the eyes to function and focus on images.
5. Moving Objects Near to Their Eyes
Does your toddler sits too close to the TV or holds a book about an inch away from their face? This can be a sign of poor vision. Toddlers who myopia (or nearsightedness) cannot see objects from afar, so they need to bring them closer to their eyes.
6. Difficulty in Day-to-Day Life
Finally, if you notice your toddler bumping into people and things, that might be a sign. They may also struggle in balancing, coordinating, moving, and placing objects. All of these can be signs of poor vision.
Children’s Glasses vs Adult’s Glasses
When the opthalmologist sees issues in your toddler’s eyes, they can prescribe your toddler a pair of glasses. When people think of glasses, they think of plastic or metal frames. They also think of glasses being made of, well, glass.
But toddlers and children have different glasses as compared to adults. For instance, children’s glasses use strong plastic lenses instead of glass. Plastic lenses are tougher to scratch and break. They can handle the throwing and falling that any toddler will do.
There are also a lot of frames that toddlers and parents can choose from. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They are also more durable and flexible when compared to adult glasses.
Parents can also buy their toddlers straps or cables to keep their glasses in place. These cables are usually looped behind the ear or head. They keep glasses from falling off of a toddler’s face and hitting the ground.
Overall, parents shouldn’t worry if their toddlers will break or drop their glasses. Most glasses for toddlers and young children are hardy and durable. They can withstand a lot of abuse. And they will grow along with the shape of a toddler’s head.
How to Get My Toddler to Wear Glasses
Most of the time, toddlers won’t resist wearing glasses. A small talk from their parents and doctor is enough to convince them. However, some toddlers may resist wearing glasses.
There are some ways to introduce glasses to toddlers. You can distract, bribe, or positively reinforce them to wear glasses.
Distracting is one method. They may not like to put the glasses on, but they will like the benefit of seeing better. Distract them by putting on their glasses and giving them a toy, a treat, or some funny faces.
You can also bribe them into wearing glasses. Tell them they will have more playtime when they put on their glasses. Or they can watch a little more TV as long as they wear their eyeglasses.
What these methods all have in common is positive reinforcement. You must make them feel good about wearing glasses. Try to make the experience a happy and positive moment.
You also shouldn’t make glasses-wearing painful and uncomfortable. Avoid tight glasses or poorly-adjusted straps. Children can also have negative feelings towards glasses as much as positive ones.
Finally, if your toddler won’t cooperate, you can ask the help of a doctor. They can administer eye drops that will make the toddler’s vision blurry. This will make them want to wear glasses more.
The Benefits of My Toddler Wearing Glasses
There are plenty of benefits that come when wearing glasses. Obviously, toddlers will no longer complain of eyesight problems and blurry visions.
But there is more good news when you give your toddler glasses. They will have a better time concentrating at school. They will more likely be focused and can read as fast as their other classmates.
They will also adjust easier when they grow older. They can attend sports events, do homework better, and play with their peers more often.
But best of all, they can experience life just like other kids do. They will not feel left out. They will see places, faces, and many things the world can offer.
Conclusion
The eyes are one of the important parts of the human body. It allows people to see others and communicate with the world around them. Life is generally easier when a person has good vision.
Thankfully, it’s easier to spot eye problems in babies and toddlers, thanks to modern technology. If your toddler has problems with their sight, ophthalmologists can prescribe them to wear glasses.
Glasses can greatly help toddlers to fix their vision and to make them see better. Glasses can also correct any ailments, such as lazy eyes or crossed eyes. Plus, glasses can be an adorable fashion statement!
Most toddlers will accept their glasses with open arms. But some will be uncooperative and will not wear them. However, parents can easily solve this with positive reinforcement and a lot of patience.
Toddlers with seeing conditions shouldn’t be left out from the world. They deserve to see as much as others can see. Thankfully, glasses are available for them to wear. Now they can see all the beauty the planet has to offer.
