Disclaimer:

Augenzentrum Vista Alpina AG and the services provided by Augenzentrum Vista Alpina are not legally or otherwise affiliated with Vista Klinik AG, Laser Vista AG, Vista Klinik Net AG or Vista Diagnostics AG.

Even if children can’t see well, they rarely complain of problems regarding their vision.

Early detection is crucial, as undetected and untreated defects and weaknesses in vision can result in permanent loss in eye-sight.

On this page, you will find numerous symptoms for which we recommend having your child seen by an ophthalmologist immediately:

• The child’s eyes are crossed; they are not in straight alignment (strabismus)

  • If cross-eyed, an eye appointment is recommended starting at the age of 6 months

• Your child is suddenly and constantly cross-eyed

  • In this case, an immediate eye exam is required

• The child’s eyes are fluttering, trembling; they are constantly moving (nystagmus)

• The eyes don’t respond equally: for example, one eye has a red, the other a white reflex in a picture

   

• One eye is smaller than the other; one eyelid closes more than the other

• The eyes are red and tearing

• Red, crusty or swollen eyelids

• Your child doesn’t look at you; its eyes do not follow moving objects; it does not respond when transitioning from shade to light

• Your child is frequently squinting/winking

• Always closing or covering one eye

• Frequently rubbing its eyes

• The child reduces the eyes (also known as “smirking")

• Moving close to objects (TV, etc.); holding objects very close up

• It holds the head in an abnormal position / tilted

• It is bothered by light

• Complaining of trouble seeing or double vision

• Complaining of eye pain

• Family history of vision disorders: e.g. people with glasses with strong corrective lenses, cross-eyed (strabismus)

• Family history of child eye diseases (glaucoma, cataract, eye tumour - always presented in childhood)

If one of these symptoms is present, we strongly advise an eye exam during the first year of life.

These recommendations are based on the brochure "Die Augen der Kinder” [The Eyes of Children] published by the Jules Gonin Eye Clinic in Lausanne. This brochure is available in French for free here: download.