Your child might not tell you they have trouble seeing. In many cases, they might not even realize it themselves. If a child struggles to read, avoids homework or complains of headaches, they could have a vision problem. Another child might sit very close to the TV or rub their eyes often after using a tablet. In today’s world, with so many screens, digital learning and busy schedules, protecting your child’s eyesight is more important than ever.
We talked with Ruben Espinoza, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician with Banner Health, to learn more about children’s eye health. He shared warning signs to watch for and simple ways you can help protect your child’s vision.
How your child’s vision develops
Vision develops gradually from infancy through the teen years.
- Birth to 3 months: Babies can only focus on objects about eight to 10 inches away. They start tracking movement and noticing high-contrast patterns.
- 3 to 6 months: Color vision begins to develop. Their depth perception and hand-eye coordination start to improve.
- 6 to 12 months: Distance vision gets better as babies crawl and explore. Their eyes learn to work together more effectively.
- 1 to 2 years: Their vision improves quickly, helping with skills like stacking blocks or drawing.
- 3 to 5 years: Vision nearly reaches 20/20. Eye-hand coordination and visual memory keep improving.
- 6 to 12 years: The visual system matures. Kids spend more time reading, writing and focusing for longer periods.
- Teen years: Vision usually stabilizes but nearsightedness or farsightedness can still develop or get worse.
Learn more about developmental milestones for children.
Common vision problems in children
Some vision problems are easy to spot. Others can look like learning difficulties, clumsiness or behavior changes.
“Many parents don’t realize how much eye development happens after the toddler years,” Dr. Espinoza said. “Catching small issues early gives children the best chance at strong, healthy vision for school and beyond.”
Here are some common vision problems and symptoms in children:
Refractive errors (blurry vision)
Refractive errors are the most common eye disorders in children. This happens when the shape of the eye doesn’t bend light properly, causing blurry vision. These problems include:
- Nearsightedness: Trouble seeing far away
- Farsightedness: Trouble seeing up close
- Astigmatism: Distorted or blurry vision
Children with refractive errors might:
- Squint often
- Sit very close to screens
- Hold books very close
- Complain of headaches
- Struggle to see the board at school
- Saying words look blurry
- Avoiding reading or homework
Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Amblyopia (lazy eye) happens when one eye doesn’t develop normal vision in early childhood. The brain starts favoring the stronger eye over the weaker one. Usually, amblyopia affects just one eye but sometimes it affects both eyes (bilateral amblyopia).
Signs might include:
- One eye wandering inward or outward
- Poor depth perception and coordination
- Squinting or shutting one eye
- Tilting the head to see
- Short attention span during visual tasks
Strabismus (crossed eyes or wandering eyes)
Strabismus occurs when your eyes don't line up properly. It happens when the eye muscles don’t work together. As a result, one eye may turn inward, outward, upward or downward.
Signs might include:
- Uncoordinated eyes that don’t move together
- Tilting the head to see
- Poor depth perception
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Squinting or closing one eye to see
How screen time affects children’s eyes
Screens have become a normal part of daily life. Kids use laptops at school, tablets at home and phones almost everywhere else. While screens won’t permanently damage your eyes, too much screen time can cause eye strain and lead to unhealthy habits.
“While screens don’t cause permanent damage to the eye’s structures, spending too much time on screens can make myopia worse and cause eye strain,” Dr. Espinoza said.
Studies show that more children are developing myopia, especially in countries where kids use screens a lot and do a lot of close-up work. Experts think that heavy screen use and less time outdoors may be factors.
Holding a device too close can cause digital eye strain, also called computer vision syndrome, which can make near vision tasks more stressful.
Another issue is reduced blinking. Kids blink much less when they stare at screens, which can dry out their eyes and cause discomfort.
Common signs of digital eye strain include:
- Eye fatigue
- Headaches
- Dry or irritated eyes
- Blurred vision
- Trouble focusing between near and far objects
- Burning or itchy eyes
Why school vision screenings aren’t enough
School screenings can help identify some vision problems but they are not a substitute for a full eye exam. Most screenings only check distance vision and might miss important issues like:
- Farsightedness
- Eye coordination problems
- Tracking problems
- Focusing difficulties
- Depth perception concerns
- Lazy eye
“A comprehensive eye exam evaluates eye health, visual acuity (sharpness) at all distances, eye teaming and tracking, focusing ability and can detect conditions that screenings miss entirely,” Dr. Espinoza said.
Recommended eye exam schedule
- 6 months: First exam
- 3 years: Second exam
- 5 to 6 years: Before starting school
- School-age: Every one to two years if no vision problems; annually if glasses are worn or risk factors exist
Healthy habits that protect your child’s vision
Good eye health is about more than limiting screen time. Everyday habits also play an important role. Here are some actions that can make the biggest difference.
Encourage outdoor time
Research shows that spending time outdoors can help reduce the risk of myopia in children. Natural light and looking at distant objects support healthy eye development. Going to the park after school, riding bikes, playing sports or enjoying games in the backyard all count. Try to get one to two hours of outdoor activity each day when you can.
Protect eyes from the sun
Children’s eyes are more sensitive to UV rays than adults' eyes. UV damage happens gradually, beginning in childhood.
Help protect their eyes by using:
- Sunglasses with 100% UV protection
- Wide-brimmed hats
- Shade during peak sun hours
Protective eyewear is especially important near water, sand or snow because these surfaces reflect UV light.
Use protective sports eyewear
“About 90% of sports eye injuries can be prevented with the right glasses,” Dr. Espinoza said. “Regular glasses don’t offer enough protection during sports.”
Children playing basketball, baseball, racquet sports, hockey or similar activities should wear protective sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses. Even low contact sports can involve balls and elbows flying.
Create an eye-friendly homework space
Poor lighting and awkward screen setups can increase eye strain. Small adjustments can make homework more comfortable:
- Use bright, even lighting
- Reduce glare on screens
- Position screens about 20 to 26 inches from the eyes
- Keep screens slightly below eye level
- Encourage good posture (slouching strains eyes and necks)
Get more tips on crafting a comfortable study space for your child.
Protect your child’s sleep
Tired eyes are unhappy eyes. Sleep helps keep eyes healthy and improves how we see. When you sleep, your eyes restore moisture and clear away irritants. Not enough sleep can cause dry eyes, eye twitching, trouble focusing and slower visual processing.
School-aged children generally need nine to 12 hours of sleep each night. Teenagers need about eight to 10 hours. Here are five signs your child isn’t getting enough sleep and how to fix it.
Feed your eyes
Healthy eating supports eye health. Offer foods rich in vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Try to include:
- Leafy greens (spinach and kale)
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Eggs
- Fish (salmon and tuna)
- Nuts (walnuts)
- Berries and citrus fruits
- Plenty of water
Build better screen habits
You can't always limit screen time but you can guide how your child uses screens.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds
- Set device-free times during the day
- Encourage hobbies that don’t involve screens
- Be a good role model by practicing healthy screen habits yourself
- Take family walks or breaks outside
- Put charging stations outside bedrooms
Takeaway
Healthy vision helps with learning, confidence and daily life. Good eye care and regular eye exams can go a long way in keeping your child's eyes healthy and preventing vision problems. If your child has trouble seeing or feels eye discomfort, talk to their health care provider or a Banner pediatric eye specialist.
Frequently asked questions
How often should kids have eye exams?
The first full eye exam should happen around 6 months old, again at 3 years old and again before kindergarten. After that, every one to two years works for most kids.
Does screen time damage kids’ eyes?
Screens don’t cause permanent eye damage. But heavy screen use can cause eye strain and sleep issues, headaches and faster progressing nearsightedness.
What is lazy eye?
Amblyopia is when one eye doesn’t develop normal vision.
Can vision problems affect school performance?
Yes. Vision is closely tied to reading, learning and focus.
