Signs that a child needs glasses may develop before your baby or toddler has an understanding of what clear vision looks like or even before they can articulate their needs properly. In the UK, babies and toddlers that are being cared for by the National Health Service (NHS) will be offered routine eye checks from birth until around two years of age. Your child’s school may offer further checks when they are four or five.

As a parent, you can look out for behavioural cues that suggest you need to book in with your GP or community optician about your child’s eyes. Community opticians across the UK offer NHS-funded free eye screenings to children under sixteen. According to the College of Optometrists in London, most babies and toddlers will not need glasses, but problems that go unchecked or undetected could lead to reduced vision. Here are some signs your child’s eyes might need to be looked at that you should make a note of and report to a healthcare professional:

Ten Signs Your Child May Need Glasses

Squinting. Everyone will recognise this behaviour, both children and adults use it to induce something called “the pinhole effect,” reducing the amount of light reaching the retina and focusing light rays centrally so that they can see more clearly. They may squint to improve their view of things up close or far away. Squinting is one of the most common signs that a child needs glasses.
Covering one eye. This is another way a toddler with vision problems can try to help themselves. It could be a sign that one of their eyes requires a prescription. They could be trying to resolve blurry or double vision in one eye.
Standing close to screens: This might seem like the most obvious sign a child needs glasses to a parent, but it doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. A child can be so inspired by what they see on screen that they want to be as close to it as possible. Still, it’s important to make a note of this if it happens regularly.
Headaches or eye pain. Any sign that your child is regularly in pain should be checked by a doctor. Ask your paediatrician before giving them painkillers. Never give aspirin to a child under sixteen.
Looking slightly cross-eyed. This is known as strabismus. It doesn’t always mean your baby or toddler has a vision problem, but it can cause double vision or head tilting when it happens. Misaligned eyes are something many children will outgrow. Still, if it worries you or occurs alongside other symptoms, it’s important to get it checked out.
Head tilting. This can be a natural response when your child is not seeing things clearly or one eye is more effective than the other. Try not to physically adjust their head yourself or make your child feel they’re doing something wrong. There’s a lot that can be learned by simply observing your child’s natural behaviour and explaining it to a professional.
Rubbing their eyes. Eye rubbing can be a sign of natural tiredness or allergies. However, eye irritation and tiredness can be indications your child needs a prescription. A child may think that rubbing or repeatedly blinking their eyes will get rid of double vision. Even if it is just allergies, it’s important to get in touch with a professional. A baby or young child may be prescribed a liquid antihistamine, but it’s important to check with your doctor before giving them something yourself.
Trouble concentrating. Demonstrating a lack of concentration is sometimes hard to identify in an energetic toddler; a doctor would usually be reluctant to diagnose something like ADHD in a child under three for this very reason. However, a new and persistent lack of concentration in a child that was once more focussed could be a sign they are having trouble engaging visually.
Complaining about double vision: This sign may be something a toddler can explain to you in a very basic way, such as saying there are two of everything.
Avoiding close-up activities. Feeling unable to understand things up close is frustrating, and avoidance is a natural response for some children. Check in with your child’s nursery staff and caregivers about this one. If your child can engage with books and other learning materials the way other children their age do, it could be a sign that their vision needs extra help.

Should I take my child to a doctor, an optician, an optometrist, or an ophthalmologist?

In the first instance, you should take your child to your GP or local opticians. In the UK, NHS-funded eye screenings are available from community opticians for children under sixteen. Optometrists and opticians often work together in the opticians practice. An optometrist is an eye doctor and can recognise abnormalities and eye conditions. They can refer your child to another doctor or to a hospital for further investigations. They perform eye exams and prescribe lenses but do not perform surgery.

An optician is trained to adjust and fit lenses, as well as to advise you on specific glasses. They are not medical professionals.

An opthalmologist cares for serious eye complaints, including those requiring surgery.

How early might a child need glasses?

Most babies and children won’t need glasses, but if there is a history of childhood eye problems in your family or your child is displaying any of the symptoms above, you should either speak to your doctor about them or take your child for an eye test. Your child doesn’t need to be able to speak for an eye check to be performed effectively. Different tools are used to test the eyes of babies and small children than those used for adults.

For more information on observing red flags and other aspects of your toddler’s wellbeing, watch Unii’s Toddler Health and Development Journey with Dr. Nisha Patel.

How can I tell that my toddler needs glasses?