Babies and young children usually have vision checks with their pediatrician. It isn't until 3 1/2 years of age that your child will have an actual vision screening test. If your child is younger, or even older, there are telltale signs that may indicate your child has a vision problem that you can detect yourself. If you notice any of these signs in your child, it may be time to contact your child's pediatrician or find an optometrist to have your child's eyes checked. Here are a few of these signs.

Eye Issues in Young Children

• Squinting. If your child is squinting to see things far away or even up close, your child could have problems with nearsighted or farsighted vision. It could also indicate astigmatism.
• Rubbing Eyes. If you notice your child rubbing his or her eyes constantly it could be due to some sort of eye strain.
• Red Eyes or Constant Tearing Eyes. Red eyes or constant teary eyes can be the result of an eye infection or allergies, or it can also be a problem with your child's tear ducts.

It can sometimes be difficult seeing eye problems in your baby or young toddler. Photographs can give you some indication of an eye problem as well. If you notice

• Red Eyes. Red eyes in photographs mean your child doesn't have any retina problems. You may not like the pictures, but it's actually a good sign.
• White Spots. A white pupil in photographs can be a warning sign of things like retinal detachment, cataracts, or infections inside of your child's eye.
• Yellow Eyes. Eyes that appear yellow in photographs can be a warning sign of Coat's Disease. This disease can result in partial or complete blindness if it goes undetected.  

Eye Issues in School Age Children

• Closing or Covering One Eye. If your child closes or covers one of his/her eyes to see the television or the chalkboard in school, there may be a vision problem. Your child may be able to see out of one of his or her eyes better than the other, hence the closing or covering of the bad eye.
• Reading Difficulties. If your child has a problem reading, such as losing his or her place constantly or placing the book very close to their eyes to see, it could mean a vision issue.

Look for signs such as crossed or misaligned eyes, as well as difficulty following objects with their eyes, which can also mean vision issues. These signs, as well as the signs above can be corrected by seeing an optometrist like Fields Family Eye Care - Kimberly A Fields Od when detected. Waiting to have a vision screening could result in permanent damage to your child's eyes.