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Signs of visual impairments

By Namita Jacob

The earlier we find out that the child has a visual impairment, the more effective our intervention will be. Sometimes it is not clear if a child has a vision problem or not. Keep these questions in mind when you are with children:

Do the eyes look unusual?

Take the child to an ophthalmologist if:

• The eyelids droop over one or both eyes.
• The eye lids do not cover the eyes completely when the child closes them.
• You find the eyes watering constantly.
• The child has a clear squint.

Do the eyes move in unusual ways?

Take the child to an ophthalmologist if:

• The eye movements are jerky.
• The eyes do not move together (after 8 months of age).

Does the child use her eyes in an unusual manner?

Take the child to an ophthalmologist if:

• The child does not look at your eyes (after 3 months of age).
• The child always reaches beyond or in front of the object she wants (after 6
  months).
• The child always holds objects very close or very far to see them.
• The child tilts or turns her head when she needs to use her eyes.
• The child pokes or pushes against his eyes a lot.
• The child does not look directly at an object, but seems to look above, below or
  off to one side of it.
• The child bumps into objects a lot.
• The child has trouble seeing at night.
• The child searches for a dropped object by feeling on the ground rather than
  looking with her eyes.

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