Learning-Related Vision Problems
The College of Optometrists in Vision Development asks that parents and teachers look for the following signs FIRST when a child is struggling academically, behaviorally, or in sports.
If the response to one or more of the following is "yes", the child may have a correctable vision problem.

Performance signs
  • Avoids “near” work
  • Frequent loss of place when reading
  • Omits, inserts,or rereads letters/words
  • Confuses similar words
  • Failure to recognize the same word in the next sentence
  • Poor reading comprehension
  • Letter or word reversals after first grade
  • Difficulty copying from the chalkboard
  • Poor handwriting; misaligns numbers
  • Book held too close to the eyes
Physical signs
  • One eye turning in or out
  • Squinting, eye rubbing or excessive blinking
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Headaches or dizziness after reading
  • Head tilting, closing or blocking one eye when reading
  • Clumsy
Secondary Symptoms
  • Smart in everything but school
  • Low self-esteem, poor self-image
  • Temper flare-ups, aggressiveness
  • Short attention span
  • Fatigue, frustration, stress
  • Irritability
Labeled
  • Lazy
  • Dyslexic
  • Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Slow learner
  • Behavioral problem
  • Working below potential

For more information on symptoms and treatments go to www.covd.org and the page titled
Vision Therapy .