Warning signs and eye exams

The short version

Children rarely say the world is blurry, because they do not know it was meant to be sharp. The signs are indirect: sitting close, squinting, a head tilt, rubbing, losing their place when reading, a drop in school work. A few signs — a turned eye after about four months of age, a white pupil in photos, sudden pain or light sensitivity — mean an appointment this week, not at the next routine check. School screenings catch some problems and miss others, especially long sight and astigmatism, so passing one is not the same as having been examined. This topic covers the signs, the exam schedule the main professional bodies recommend, and what to ask in the room.