Toddler needs eyes checked?

[mrforbes]

Hi,
My DS is almost 2 and I'm wondering if he needs his eyes checked. Lately I've noticed him squinting on the couch when he's watching his show and he often get up to stand next to the credenza which drives both DH and I crazy. I've also noticed him recognizing sounds in the sky or around him like planes and then saying what it is and vaguely pointing in the direction - he often seems to be looking (sqinting) but I'm not sure he seeing clearly? He seems fine w/book which are often, naturally, only a couple of inches from him.

I have horrible eyes and have had glasses from a very young age.

Am I over examining my toddler or should I bring him in to have his eyes checked?

[Amanda L]

I have horrible eyesight and plan on getting my toddlers eyes checked when he is two. Better to have them checked and everything be fine than he not be able to see because I thought I was being paranoid!

[pbjmama]

I would take him in as your earliest convenience.

[34me]

Yup take him in. My dh has horrible eyesight and I also need some light correction so our guys have gotten eye exams since they were about 2. So far only one has gotten visited by the glasses fairy but since I got mine about 2 years after I should have they still get checked every year.

[tabrizia]

I'd take him in for a checkup. I have horrible eyes and got glasses at 18 months. I take both of mine in yearly for checkups, I use a pediatric ophthalmologist. DD started going at 4 months old and DS started going at 14 months.

If you have any concerns about his eyesight I would definitely have it checked out.

[just_lily]

I have horrible (like really, really horrible) eyesight, and have taken my DD for two eye exams so far, and will take her again when she is 2.5 (in about 6 months).

Not being able to see can cause developmental and behavioural issues. Definitely go and get it checked out.

The exam itself is pretty easy and non-invasive. Either ask for recommendations from friends, or call a larger practice and ask if they have anyone who likes to work with kids. Having a doctor that is comfortable with the littles makes a huge difference.

[ellemenope]

At around 18 months we started to notice that when DD unfocused her eyes to try and find a word she wanted, her eyes ever so slightly became unaligned. It was so slight, that noone else would say they saw it.

We took her to a pediatric opthamologist and she saw it.

This is sometimes caused by farsightedness, but in DD's case that is not the case. We are hoping that it is just that the left eye's muscle is a bit weaker. We patch everyday for an hour.

But, anyway, DD got her eyes dialated, and the doctor did some refracting. DD had perfect eyesight and only a slight astigmatism that did not need to be corrected.

She is seen about every 6 weeks. She loves her doctor. 6 months later, it is sooo much better. I truly believe that the patching is helping and she is growing out of this condition. But, we will continually get her eyes checked, you better believe it.

DD also has a really hard time in bright lights. On a normal bright day, DD cannot even look up into the sky to see a plane because it is too bright. This is a good sign something might be wrong with your toddlers' eyes.

[mrforbes]

Thanks - I'll make an appt. The comment about the bright days and looking up really sounds like him as well, w/my bad eyesight plus light eyes (DS and I both have blue eyes) I wear sunglasses on even cloudy days - one because I think it's too bright and two, because my eye doctor tells me to.

[Abraisme]

I'm another one that says take him in. Better save than sorry.. I also have bad eyes and have had both of my kids in before they were 1yo.