an eye doctor in a third world country: Sharing what I know best : Warning Signs and Risks for Vision Problems in Children

Among the children's health issues that parents are most concerned with, eyes and vision rank near the top. That's especially true because vision is very important to the development and education of a child. And parents must be extra-vigilant because a child may not realize that his vision is not normal. If it's what he always knew, then naturally it will seem normal to him. It's up to the attentive parent to notice the signs of a vision problem and follow up with a visit to the eye doctor for a children's eye exam.

The Warning Signs and Risks for Vision Problems in Children are:

Squinting, closing or covering one eye
Constantly holding materials close to the face
Tilting the head to one side
Rubbing eyes repeatedly
One or both eyes turn in or out
Redness or tearing in eyes
Premature birth
Developmental delays
Family history of "lazy eye" or "thick glasses"
A disease that affects the whole body (such as diabetes, sickle cell or HIV)

If you notice any of these symptoms, make sure your child sees an eye doctor for a comprehensive children's eye exam. Keep in mind that not all children's vision problems can be diagnosed by you or a school nurse; only an eye doctor has the training and equipment to catch everything.