It is often said the eyes are the windows to the soul.
Imagine a child sitting in class, excited to learn, but constantly struggling to see clearly. It’s not because they’re not paying attention or aren’t trying. They simply can’t make sense of what they’re seeing. That’s the reality for many children living with strabismus and amblyopia, two common but often misunderstood eye conditions.
These visual challenges can quietly interfere with how a child learns, plays, and interacts with others. And unfortunately, many go unnoticed until a child begins to fall behind in school.
As a caregiver, understanding these conditions, their impact on a child’s education, and how to support affected children can make a significant difference in their academic success and emotional well-being. Let’s take a closer look at how these eye conditions affect learning and how adults can help turn the struggle into support.
Table of Contents
What Are Strabismus And Amblyopia?
Let’s begin with what these terms mean.
Strabismus is a condition where both eyes do not align properly. One eye might turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia) while the other eye focuses normally. This can happen all the time or only sometimes, especially when a child is tired or trying to focus on something up close.
Because the eyes are not working together, the brain may get two different images and can become confused. To avoid double vision or confusion, the brain may start ignoring the image from one eye. Over time, this can lead to amblyopia, commonly known as lazy eye.
Amblyopia is when the vision in one eye doesn’t develop properly, usually during early childhood. This occurs because the brain prefers one eye over the other, weakening the neglected eye. Unlike many vision problems, amblyopia is not just about blurry vision that can be corrected with glasses. It’s more about how the brain and the eye work together (or in this case, don’t).
Both conditions can happen separately, but they are often connected. And both can have long-term effects on a child’s ability to learn if they’re not treated early.
How These Conditions Affect Learning
1. Reading Can Feel Like A Chore
Reading is a visual task that demands eye coordination, focus, and tracking ability. Children with strabismus may see double or have trouble keeping their eyes on the same line of text. Children with amblyopia may struggle to see clearly with one eye, affecting how they recognise letters or words.
As a result, these children might read more slowly, skip words or lines, lose their place, or become frustrated quickly. Over time, they may associate reading with stress or failure and begin to avoid it altogether.
2. It Is Hard To Focus
Children with eye conditions sometimes have to work twice as hard to process visual information. Whether it’s copying notes from the board, watching a demonstration, or completing a worksheet, they may become mentally and physically tired faster than their peers. This visual fatigue can cause them to zone out or appear inattentive.
Some teachers might mistakenly think the child has a short attention span or behavioural issues like ADHD, when in reality, their vision is simply making it harder for them to concentrate.
3. Trouble With Hand-Eye Coordination
Eye conditions can also impact how the hand and eyes work together. Writing neatly, using scissors, drawing shapes, catching a ball, or playing with building blocks all require the eyes and hands to work together. When one eye is weaker or misaligned, judging between distances, spaces, depth and trajectory of movement objects becomes difficult.
Children may appear clumsy or hesitant to participate in physical activities. They might avoid art, sports, or games that other kids enjoy, not because they lack interest, but because these tasks are extra challenging.
4. Confidence Takes A Hit
No child likes to feel different. When one eye looks “off” or they’re constantly struggling to keep up, it can lead to teasing or self-consciousness. Over time, that can affect their social life and self-esteem.
In Nigeria, children with strabismus are often called names like “half past one”, “quarter past seven”, or “three-thirty eyes”. These expressions refer to the way the eyes appear misaligned, like one is looking straight while the other points to an imaginary clock position. While these phrases may be said jokingly, they often carry a mocking tone and can deeply hurt the child. Repeated teasing using such labels can cause embarrassment, shame, or even withdrawal from social or classroom participation.
This is why it’s so important to build awareness around the emotional impact of eye conditions. Children need support and empathy, not ridicule. When adults correct hurtful language and foster kindness, they create an environment where every child feels safe, included, and confident.
5. Slower Learning In Key Developmental Areas
Vision plays a crucial role in early learning, especially during the preschool and early elementary years when children are building foundational skills. Recognising letters, numbers, patterns, shapes, and colours all rely on good vision.
When a child can’t clearly see or interpret what they’re looking at, it slows down their learning. They may struggle with basic reading, spelling, handwriting, and even early math. These setbacks can have a snowball effect if not addressed early.
6. Risk Of Misdiagnosis
In some cases, children with amblyopia or strabismus may be misdiagnosed with learning disabilities or attention disorders like ADHD. That’s because their symptoms (such as poor attention, slow reading, or frustration during class) can look similar.
This makes early eye screenings and proper diagnosis even more important. Getting to the root cause of a child’s struggle can prevent years of mislabeling and mistreatment.
Spotting The Signs Early
Caregivers like parents and teachers are often the first to notice signs of vision problems. These may include:
- Frequent squinting or closing one eye
- Tilting the head a little sideways when looking at things
- Holding books or phones very close to the face
- Trouble with reading or writing
- Avoiding tasks that require visual focus
- Seeming clumsy or uncoordinated
- Complaints of headaches or tired eyes
- Sitting very close to TV, Computer or devices with bright screens
If any of these signs are present, it’s important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with a pediatric eye specialist. Early detection can lead to more effective treatment and better outcomes.
Treatment Options That Make A Difference
Treating strabismus and amblyopia is most effective when started early (ideally before age 7), but improvement is possible at any age. Common treatment approaches include:
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors and help align vision in some cases.
- Eye patching to strengthen the weaker eye.
- Atropine drops to blur the stronger eye and encourage use of the weaker one.
- Vision therapy, which includes exercises to improve focus, coordination, and eye control.
- The last option is surgery to realign the eye muscles when necessary.
These treatments take time and commitment. That’s why encouragement from parents, support from teachers, and regular follow-ups with eye care professionals are essential to long-term success.
How Teachers And Parents Can Help At School
A child with amblyopia or strabismus doesn’t just need medical treatment (they need support in the classroom, too). Here are practical ways to help:
- Seat the child where visibility is best, like near the front of the classroom, close to the board.
- Use large, handwriting, bold print in worksheets and books.
- Allow extra time for reading or visual assignments.
- Offer regular breaks during tasks that require sustained focus (like computer practicals).
- If possible, use audiobooks or oral testing where appropriate.
- Avoid calling out or embarrassing the child during struggles.
- Celebrate small achievements to build confidence.
- Work closely with parents and specialists to create an Individualised Education Plan (IEP) if needed.
- Most importantly, let the child know that their vision challenge does not define their intelligence or potential.
Final Thoughts
Strabismus and amblyopia may seem like simple vision issues, but their impact on a child’s academic, emotional, and social development can be profound. A child who can’t see well may begin to believe they can’t learn well either. But with early detection, proper treatment, and a compassionate support system at home and in school, children with these conditions can thrive.
In Nigeria and elsewhere, casual jokes like “half past one” may seem harmless, but they often leave lasting emotional scars. We all have a role to play in replacing mockery with understanding, and exclusion with inclusion. Every child deserves the chance to see clearly and learn confidently. It starts with awareness, action, and the belief that no learning barrier is too big to overcome when we work together.
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