Smiling Eyes

May is Healthy Vision Month.

That makes it a perfect time to schedule an eye exam for your child. He should have his first at 6 months, then at 3 years, then again right before school starts. Also be on the lookout for these symptoms of a possible vision problem:

In Preschoolers

• squinting
• sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close
• difficulty with eye-hand-body coordination
• frequent eye-rubbing
• turning or tilting the head to use one eye
• avoiding detailed activities like coloring

In School-Age Children

• frequent eye-rubbing or blinking
• covering one eye
• frequent headaches
• short attention span
• losing one’s place when reading and difficulty remembering what was read
• avoiding reading or other similar activities

Sites to See

If your child needs glasses, consider ordering them online. 39DollarGlasses.com offers a selection of frames with lenses for only $39, much cheaper than brick-and-mortar stores. But before you order, check out allaboutvision.com, a website full of tips on finding the right frames for your child, info on what’s new in kids’ eyewear, and more.