Vision and focus problems can make it harder for your child to see. They might have trouble reading, learning or even playing. They might squint, rub their eyes often, complain of headaches or have trouble keeping their spot when reading. An eye exam will be recommended by a pediatrician if your child failed a vision screening or if they have a condition that puts them at a higher risk for eye problems or family history.

Common signs of vision and focus problems:

• Trouble seeing far away
• Trouble seeing close up
• Blurry vision
• Using one eye more than the other

Symptoms of vision and focus problems may include:

• Headaches or eye strain
• Eye squinting
• Eye rubbing
• Eye crossing or drifting
• Redness
• Pain
• Trouble seeing close/far away

Kids can have trouble with their vision and focus during various stages of childhood. Treatment is key to help them see better and to protect their eye health.

Refractive Errors 

Refractive errors are common vision problems. They are seen in about 20% of kids. They impact how well a child can see and can lead to headaches, tired eyes and trouble reading. Eyeglasses or contact lenses may be needed to correct or improve vision.

There are three main types:

• Trouble seeing far away (nearsightedness or myopia)
• Trouble seeing close up (farsightedness or hyperopia)
• Blurry vision from an uneven curve in the cornea (astigmatism)

Amblyopia

Amblyopia, often called lazy eye, is a condition where vision is weaker in one eye. It can impact both eyes. It can happen along with cataracts and other vision issues. You may notice your child using one eye more than the other.

Cataracts

A cataract is a cloudy area on the lens of the eye. It blocks light from entering the eye making it hard to see. Some kids are born with them, while others develop cataracts after an eye injury. Cataracts in kids are rare.

Types of cataracts that can affect one or both eyes:

• Congenital: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood. Congenital cataracts often occur in both eyes. Some don’t affect vision, but others do. A doctor is needed to remove them.
• Secondary: This type occurs mostly because of another disease in the body. Doctors have also connected them to the use of some medicines, such as steroids.
• Traumatic: An eye with an injury may develop a traumatic cataract. It can appear right after the injury or many years later.
• Age-related: Most cataracts are related to aging.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can hurt an important part of your eye called the optic nerve. The optic nerve's job is to send what you see to your brain. When glaucoma damages this nerve, it usually happens because there's too much pressure inside your eye. If doctors don't treat glaucoma, you could lose your vision forever or even go blind.

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

ROP is an eye disease that can happen to babies who are born too early (premature babies). In ROP, the tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye don't grow the right way. These blood vessels are in a part of the eye called the retina. The retina is like the film in a camera — it's the part that catches light so you can see.

Eyelid Problems

Eyelid problems are different conditions that can affect your eyelids. Your eyelids have skin, muscles, and tiny glands that can all have issues. Many of these problems are small and go away by themselves. But some can last a long time or be a sign of a bigger health problem.

The symptoms you might notice depend on what type of problem you have. Here are some common signs:

• Your eyelid gets puffy, red or itchy
• Small bumps or lumps appear on your eyelid
• Crusty stuff builds up on your eyelashes
• The skin on your eyelids gets dry and flaky
• Your eyelid starts to droop down
• Your eyelid turns in toward your eye or out away from your eye
• Your eyelid won't stop twitching or blinking on its own

Your child’s healthy vision is our goal. Our Eye Care Program experts diagnose and treat a wide range of childhood eye conditions, including vision and focus problems.

Amblyopia Clinics

If our experts find that your child has a lazy eye (amblyopia), we’ll refer them to our orthoptic experts for more tests. Our orthoptists hold weekly eye movement (motility) clinics. Based on how serious the lazy eye is, they see kids for four to six weeks, or once every three months.

Orthoptics is a type of eye therapy that helps teach the eyes how to work the right way. It uses special tests and exercises to fix how your child’s eyes align, move and work as a team.

Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

If your child doesn’t see well, we may suggest eyeglasses or contact lenses to help their vision. We'll find the best prescription for your child if they have trouble seeing far away, up close or have blurred vision.

For kids with a lazy eye (amblyopia), we may prescribe eyeglasses with prisms.

Specialty and Medically Complex Clinics

These clinics include contact lens, oculoplastic clinic, neuro-ophthalmology clinic and the ocular oncology clinic.

We provide care for kids to support their vision and well-being at every stage.

Premier care: We provide complete ophthalmologic, optometric and orthoptic care for kids. If your child needs an eye exam or treatment for eye disease, our experts provide the best care.

Active in research: Our experts have the most pediatric eye care experience in the region. We also take part in clinical research studies. This includes national studies funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Advanced training: Our eye doctors (ophthalmologists) have at least three years of hospital residency. They completed a two-year fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology. They’re also experts in treating eye conditions, including surgery.