Check if your kids are struggling to see

Children's Day is a perfect time to address one of the often-overlooked aspects of children’s health: their vision. Many children face issues with their eyesight, but because they may not realize that their experience differs from others, they often fail to communicate these problems to adults. As a result, vision problems can go unnoticed, impacting their academic performance, social interactions, and confidence.

Key Vision Issues in Children
Unexplained Headaches and Eye Strain: Frequent headaches or complaints about discomfort while reading or watching TV can indicate vision issues. Children may squint, blink excessively, or even cover one eye to see better.

Difficulty in Reading or Writing: If a child seems uninterested in reading or struggles with writing, this could be a sign of an undiagnosed refractive error like myopia or astigmatism. It could also be indicative of a focusing issue where the child’s eyes can’t keep text clear while reading.

Avoidance of Sports or Physical Activities: Children with vision problems often avoid sports, especially those requiring hand-eye coordination, like basketball or tennis. Poor depth perception or visual clarity can make these activities difficult or unappealing.

Difficulty in Schoolwork: Kids with vision problems may find it hard to concentrate in class or struggle to see the board. They may miss out on visual cues that are essential for learning and social interactions, impacting their confidence and academic progress.

Signs to Watch For

Excessive Rubbing of Eyes: Especially when not tired, this could be a sign of eye fatigue or an underlying issue like dry eyes or allergies.

Sitting Very Close to Screens or Holding Books Close to Face: Common in children with nearsightedness, this behavior suggests they struggle to see clearly at a normal distance.

Frequent Trips to the Nurse’s Office for Headaches: Often dismissed as minor, recurring headaches can be an early sign of eye strain or vision issues.

Poor Handwriting or Coloring Outside the Lines: Difficulty with fine motor tasks can signal visual tracking issues, where a child’s eyes can’t smoothly follow a line of text or stay focused on a close object.

Helping Parents Detect Vision Problems Early

Parents can play a vital role in detecting vision issues. Observing children’s habits, asking gentle questions about how they feel while reading or doing homework, and watching for the above signs can help. Scheduling regular eye exams for children—even if no problems are noticed—ensures early detection and treatment. If a child resists reading, struggles with ball games, or frequently complains of headaches, these could be cues to seek an eye exam.

As we celebrate Children’s Day, let’s also consider the unseen challenges children face. By being proactive and observant, parents can safeguard their child’s vision, ensuring that their growth and learning journey remains clear and bright.

Is Diabetes Threatening to Dim Your World?

Diabetic retinopathy is one of those hidden problems that can seriously damage eyesight, especially in people with diabetes. Many of us don’t realize how dangerous it can be because it doesn’t show any symptoms in the beginning. In India, where diabetes is very common, diabetic retinopathy quietly affects many people, and they only come to know when their vision is already compromised.

The reason it’s called a “silent killer” is that high blood sugar slowly weakens the tiny blood vessels in our eyes, which carry the oxygen and nutrients needed by the retina (the part that helps us see clearly). When these vessels are damaged, they may start leaking fluid or even bleeding. This can blur the vision and, in severe cases, lead to vision loss if left untreated. The trouble is, at the early stages, people usually feel nothing unusual with their eyes. So, it’s easy to ignore, thinking everything is okay.

Most of us only worry about our eyes when we start noticing problems with our vision. But in diabetic retinopathy, by the time we notice a change, serious damage might have already happened. Even if your vision feels fine, high blood sugar could still be silently affecting your eyes. This is why regular eye check-ups are so important for anyone with diabetes—because early detection can prevent major complications.

In India, many people with diabetes don’t give eye health the priority it deserves. I tell my patients simple steps like keeping blood sugar under control, seeing an eye doctor once a year, and being aware of any changes in vision can make a huge difference. Taking action early can protect your eyesight in the long run. I understand how busy life can be, and it’s easy to skip health check-ups, but diabetic retinopathy isn’t something to overlook. An annual eye exam could be the easiest way to avoid this silent threat.

To put it in perspective, as per our experience out of every 100 patients we see with diabetes, around 30 to 40 people are likely to develop some form of diabetic retinopathy. That is 30 to 40% of the population. The longer you have diabetes and the less control you have over your blood sugar, the higher your risk. Out of those with diabetic retinopathy, about 10 to 15 % people may reach severe stages where vision loss becomes a real possibility. Some of them might need advanced treatments like laser therapy, injections, or surgery to prevent further damage.

Diabetic retinopathy can even lead to permanent vision loss. This is a condition that worsens gradually, so the sooner it’s detected and managed, the better the outcome. With timely diagnosis, good blood sugar management, and routine eye exams, we can help most people with diabetes keep their eyesight intact.

For everyone living with diabetes, remember this simple mantra: Take charge of your health by scheduling regular diabetic and eye check-ups. By keeping an eye on your blood sugar and your vision, you can catch issues early and protect the gift of sight. A little prevention today can save you from serious complications tomorrow. Take your wellbeing including that  of your eyes seriously.

By Dr Pravin Patil, Vitreo Retina Specialist, Shri Venkatesh Eye Institute.