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Kids
Women
Men
Kids
Children rarely tell you they can’t see properly.
That’s not because they’re keeping secrets, it’s because they’ve never experienced clear vision, so they have no frame of reference to know something is wrong. What looks blurry to us might simply be ‘normal’ to them. This makes regular eye checks essential, but it also means parents need to know the behavioural signs to watch for between appointments.
With Term 2 underway, the school holiday window has just closed. But the term ahead, new seating arrangements, more intensive reading, and increased screen time, makes it worth asking: could your child be struggling to see clearly, and just not saying so?
Here are six signs to look out for.
1. Squinting at the TV, whiteboard, or anything in the distance
Squinting is one of the most common and recognisable signs of myopia (short-sightedness). By narrowing the eyelids, children reduce the amount of light entering the eye and bring the focal point closer to the retina, temporarily sharpening a blurry image. If your child squints when looking at the TV from a normal distance, or at the board at school, it’s worth having their vision assessed. Squinting can also indicate astigmatism, a common condition where the cornea or lens is slightly irregular in shape.
2. Frequent headaches, particularly after school or reading
When children have uncorrected hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatism, their eye muscles work overtime to maintain focus. This sustained effort leads to eye strain, which commonly presents as headaches at the end of the school day or after sustained near work like reading and homework. These headaches are often dismissed as tiredness, but if they’re a regular pattern, an eye exam is the right starting point.
3. Sitting too close to the TV or holding books very close to their face
This is a classic sign of myopia. Children with short-sightedness see near objects clearly but struggle at distance, so bringing objects closer compensates for their blurred far vision. If your child consistently gravitates to the front row of the classroom, sits within arm’s reach of the screen at home, or holds their tablet right in front of their face to read, it’s worth investigating. Myopia in school-aged children is increasingly common in Australia, driven in part by more time spent on screens and less time outdoors.
4. Tilting the head or covering one eye
If a child tilts their head or habitually covers one eye to look at something, this can indicate that each eye is seeing differently, or that the two eyes aren’t working well together. This is sometimes a sign of amblyopia (commonly called lazy eye), where one eye sends a weaker signal to the brain. Amblyopia is one of the most common eye conditions in children and responds well to early intervention. The visual system is still developing through the first seven to eight years of life, so catching it early makes a genuine difference to long-term outcomes.
5. Losing their place while reading, or using their finger to track words
Children who skip lines, re-read the same sentence, or rely on a finger to track every word while reading may be experiencing an uncorrected refractive error such as astigmatism, or a binocular vision problem like convergence insufficiency — where the eyes struggle to work together at close range. These issues are often misattributed to reading difficulties or attention problems. In fact, research has found that some children labelled as inattentive or hyperactive in the classroom are simply unable to see properly.
6. Avoiding reading, drawing, or activities that require sustained visual focus
Children are surprisingly good at avoiding tasks that are uncomfortable. If your child shows little interest in books, drawing, puzzles, or other activities that demand visual concentration, it may not be a preference issue, it may be that these activities cause discomfort or strain they can’t articulate. Look for patterns: do they lose interest quickly in tasks that require near focus? Do they seem relieved to step away? This kind of avoidance can be an indirect indicator of an underlying vision problem.
When should children have their eyes checked?
Optometry Australia recommends annual eye examinations for all school-age children between the ages of 6 and 19. Research suggests that approximately 25% of school-age children develop a vision problem, yet many go undetected because children simply don’t know to complain.
School term breaks are an ideal time to book in. Appointments don’t disrupt school days, and if a prescription is required, there’s time to have glasses made and ready before the term’s workload builds.
Already have a prescription?
If your child has been given a prescription and you’re looking for quality frames at a sensible price, Lenses Direct’s kids glasses range starts from $69, with durable, optometrist-backed options across a wide range of styles. Backed by a 1-year warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
