Young children with vision problems may think that everyone sees the way they do. They don’t realize that they’re supposed to be able to see the leaves on a tree across the street or the letters on a blackboard from the back row of a classroom. Even if children know they’re not seeing well, they may not be capable of describing the problem, so parents want to pay close attention to their complaints about vision.

Sight and Learning

Between 80 and 85 percent of our learning is visual, and one child in four has a vision problem that may delay his or her progress or cause behavioral difficulties in school. Thousands of children every year are misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a learning disability when the real problem is poor eyesight. Often vision problems are manifested in other ways—as poor coordination, clumsiness, hesitation, or poor timing. (Children with ADD/ADHD, even when being treated, do experience more severe vision symptoms and have more problems with their eyes than other children do.)

If you notice children squinting, holding reading material close to their faces, avoiding books or other close work, or experiencing headaches and dizziness, have them checked by a pediatrician or an eye care professional.

Be Aware of Problems

Most childhood eye problems can be corrected if they are detected and treated early. If left untreated, some conditions can lead to permanent vision loss. Some common children’s vision problems are listed below:

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, affects one in 50 children. It’s a condition in which one eye becomes stronger, doing most of the work, while the less-used weak eye becomes progressively weaker. One in 20 preschool children has an eye problem that could cause amblyopia. Look for your child favoring one eye or tilting the head. An eye drifting or wandering when the child is tired or sick, excessive blinking or rubbing, or closing one eye, especially in sunlight, can also signal that something is wrong.

Strabismus, or crossed eyes, is caused when muscles of the eyes do not work together. About one in 50 children in the U.S. has this condition, which can lead to amblyopia. Also look for eyes that don’t line up (one eye may turn in, out, up, or down).Treatments for both conditions may include:

• glasses to correct focus
• eye exercises
• patching the strong eye
• drops, ointment, glasses, or contact lenses to blur vision in the strong eye to make the weak eye work harder and become stronger.

Diet Matters

Good nutrition is essential to good vision. While the brain and eyes compose only 2 percent of the body, they use about 25 percent of our nutritional intake. Clear out junk foods and keep fresh fruits and veggies around, instead, for kids to snack on.

Carbohydrates fuel your child’s body. Complex carbs are burned more slowly and provide more sustained energy than the simple carbs found in white sugar, white flour, and other processed foods. Complex carbs also provide fiber.

Fats lubricate our joints, contribute to soft skin and shiny hair, and support eye health. An extremely low-fat diet has been linked to numerous problems in children including impaired vision, stunted growth, and limited mental development. While it’s wise to avoid saturated fat from animal sources and trans fat from processed snacks, omega-3 essential fatty acids are required for proper functioning of the brain and good vision. Sources of omega 3s are walnuts and walnut oil, green leafy vegetables, and oily fish like salmon and sardines.

Consider Supplements

Because children don’t always eat a balanced diet, a multivitamin/mineral supplement every day can fill any nutritional gaps.