Ages 6 Through 19

The ages 6 through 19 bring with them one common denominator, constant and persistent change. The body grows and changes, the brain and entire physiological system changes, and the eyes go through growth and development.

Refractive changes

As the eyes continue to grow and develop, the balance between the size and shape of the eye and the focusing power of the eye will shift. These anatomical and optical shifts can be dramatic and rapid during these 15 years.  It is often the case that body growth patterns and ocular changes take place together. A child that grows 6 inches in height over a summer vacation can often manifest a large change in their refraction, usually an increase in myopia or nearsightedness. It is very important to realize that these refractive error changes can take place over very brief periods of time. Refractive changes usually stabilize by the age of 20, but changes may persist for decades in some cases.

Signs & Symptoms

Another important note; signs and symptoms do not always correlate with one another. Since most children are unaware that their eyes may be changing, and these changes are generally gradual. A youngster may not realize that their blurred world is not normal. If a distant object is out of focus, they just move closer in order to see it. Their problem, as far as they are concerned, is solved.

Some of the more common signs and symptoms of potential eye and vision problems include:

•  Squinting
•  Constant rubbing of the eyes
•  Holding objects closer than normal
•  Holding objects farther away than normal
•  Crossed eyes, or abnormal eye coordination
•  Sitting too close to the television
•  Head tilts or other abnormal head positioning
•  Complaints of headaches or eye strain

If any of these signs of symptoms are discovered, it is important to have your child’s eyes examined as soon as possible by your eye doctor in order to maintain healthy eyes and comfortable vision.