Symptoms of Functional Vision Problems

Telltale Symptoms are Easy to Spot

The following behaviors could indicate that someone has a vision problem. If you observe one or more of these symptoms, we recommend a functional vision examination. 

Observable Traits

  • Crossed or lazy eye
  • Frequent tilting of head to one side or one shoulder is noticeably higher
  • Excessive squinting, blinking, and/or closing of one eye
  • Places head close to book while reading
  • Poor visual/motor skills (“hand-eye coordination”)
  • Problems moving in space, frequently bumps into things or drops things, is “clumsy”
  • Difficulties catching and/or throwing airborne objects
  • Appears to favor the use of one eye
  • Burning or itching eyes, reddened in appearance
  • Headaches in forehead or temples
  • Exhibits posture problems

Behavior-Related

  • Short attention span
  • Nervous, irritable, or quickly fatigued while reading, looking at books, or doing close work
  • Displays signs of emotional or developmental immaturity
  • Low frustration level, doesn’t get along well with others
  • Experiences blurry vision
  • Nausea or dizziness
  • Motion sickness
  • Double vision

Work Skills

  • Repeatedly confuses left and right directions
  • Holds the book or object unusually close
  • Twists or tilts head toward a book or object to favor one eye
  • Frequently loses place when reading or copying from the board or paper
  • Difficulty remembering what was read
  • Difficulty remembering, identifying and reproducing geometric shapes
  • Often reverses words
  • Uses finger to read
  • Rubs eyes during or after short periods of reading
  • Frequently skips words and/or has to re-read
  • Repeatedly omits small words
  • Struggles with handwriting
  • Moves head back and forth (instead of moving eyes)

You can also spot vision-related problems in infants and preschoolers.

Take the Vision Quiz for a
score-based evaluation of your symptoms.

 

Take The Vision Quiz Now

 

 

 

About the content on this website

The content on this website has been created by The Vision Therapy Center. It was written by professional writers and then reviewed and edited for medical accuracy by the Developmental Optometrists at The Vision Therapy Center.