Common Early Vision Conditions

National ophthalmology surveys suggest that up to 25% of all school-aged children have vision conditions¹, a rate that affects millions of children in the United States. Below are the vision conditions that most commonly after preschool and school-age children.

Strabismus

Strabismus is the general term for misalignment of the eyes. Strabismus is caused by a muscle imbalance, and will not correct itself without treatment. Strabismus, which can be constant or intermittent, can lead to a number of more specific vision conditions related to eye misalignment.

Amblyopia

Sometimes called “lazy eye,” amblyopia is a condition related to strabismus, in which one eye is weaker than another, and is unable to properly align itself. Without proper treatment, a child will begin to rely more on his or her dominant eye, further weakening the affected eye.

Estropia

Esotropia is the involuntary inward (towards the nose) deviation of one or both eyes. Esotropia is related to (or may be caused by) strabismus.

Extropia

Exotropia is the involuntary outward (away from the nose) deviation of one or both of the eyes. Exotropia is related to (or may be caused by) strabismus.

Hypertropia

Hypertropia is the involuntary upward deviation of one eye. Hypertropia is related to (or may be caused by) strabismus.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an eye with abnormal shape or curvature. A healthy eye has the shape of a sphere, similar to a basketball, whereas an eye with astigmatism is shaped as an ellipsoid and more closely resembles an egg or a football. Astigmatism may be caused by amblyopia.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia is the medical term for farsightedness, a vision condition in which distant objects are seen clearly while closer objects do not come into proper focus.

Myopia

Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness, a vision condition in which close objects are seen clearly while distant objects do not come into proper focus.

1. Journal of Behavior Opt 1. ometry, Visual Screening of Adjudicated Adolescents, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1999.

Learn More

About Precision Vision Early Detection Program

Illinois Department of Public Health Vision Screening Guidelines

Importance of Vision in Childhood Development