A study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics found that one in four U.S. children wears either eyeglasses or contact lenses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 7% of children in the United States have a diagnosed ocular condition, with blindness and visual impairments accounting for approximately 3% of all cases.

“The American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam in the first year of life, again around age 3 and before starting school,” says pediatric optometrist Katharine Funari, O.D., M.P.H, F.A.A.O. Funari and pediatric optometrist, Eleanor Min, O.D., F.A.A.O. debunk six common myths around children’s eye health, addressing the question of whether children will outgrow eye problems and explaining why eyeglasses do not weaken the eyes.

Katharine Funari, O.D., M.P.H, F.A.A.O., Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Pediatric Optometry

Myth: Children will outgrow eye problems

Most eye problems don’t just go away with age. In fact, if they’re not treated early, they can get worse. For example, a condition called amblyopia, or lazy eye, can develop when one eye isn’t working properly, and the brain starts to rely on the other eye instead. If this isn’t caught early, it can lead to permanent vision problems. The good news is that early treatment is often very effective.

Myth: Eye exams aren't needed until school age

Kids don’t have to be able to read or talk much to have their eyes checked. Eye doctors have special ways to test vision even in babies and toddlers. The American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam in the first year of life, again around age 3 and before children start school. Many vision problems don’t have obvious signs, so checking early helps catch issues before they affect learning or development.

Myth: Squinting is just a habit

Squinting usually means a child is trying to see more clearly — it’s not just something they do for no reason. It can be a sign they’re having trouble focusing or seeing things at a distance. If you notice your child squinting a lot, it’s a good idea to have their eyes checked to rule out any problems.

Eleanor Min, O.D., F.A.A.O., Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Pediatric Optometry

Myth: Reading in dim light damages your eyes

When you read in dim lighting, your eyes must work harder to focus, which can lead to eye strain, headaches, fatigue and blurry vision — but these effects are short term and temporary. They go away once you rest your eyes. There is no evidence that dim light causes permanent damage or worsens the vision over time. 

There have been some concerns that reading in dim light causes a progression in myopia, or nearsightedness, however it is the lack of outdoor time and a decrease in reading distance causing the progression, and not the dim lighting. 

Myth: Watching TV too close ruins your eyesight

Sitting too close to the TV does not ruin your eyesight, however this can cause a temporary eye strain, dry eyes and headaches. When children sit too close to the TV, the concern can be valid that they may already have myopia and are compensating, or they simply prefer the immersive view. 

Myth: Wearing glasses makes your eyes weaker

Glasses simply correct focus, but they do not change the strength of your eyes or make them dependent in a harmful way. When your child wears the correct prescription, they can see clearly, and the eyes are straining less and not “overworking” the focusing system. If someone feels like their eyesight has worsened after starting glasses wear, it is because they have gotten used to clear vision, so blur is more noticeable without them.

Also, your prescription may naturally change over time, regardless of whether you started wearing glasses. Standard glasses wear also does not speed up myopia or weaken the eye, however, there are special lenses for children that help slow down the progression of myopia.