What does it mean when a child rolls their eyes upward?

Rolling the eyes upward (i.e., exposing the whites of the eyes) is a relatively common phenomenon. Many people pay little attention when it occurs; however, frequent upward eye-rolling may signal an underlying health issue. So, what causes children to roll their eyes upward? Below, we provide answers to this question.

What Causes Children to Roll Their Eyes Upward?

1. Epilepsy

Seizures—also known as convulsions or fits—are among the most common pediatric emergencies and the most frequent neurological disorder in children. Infantile epilepsy typically manifests within the first four weeks after birth. One characteristic symptom during a seizure is tightly closed eyes or partially open eyes with upward deviation of the eyeballs. Therefore, if parents observe their child rolling their eyes upward, they should carefully monitor for other signs of epilepsy before drawing conclusions.

2. Febrile Seizures

Seizures often occur suddenly—a hallmark clinical feature—characterized by abrupt loss of consciousness accompanied by generalized or focal, tonic, and/or clonic contractions of facial and limb muscles. During such episodes, patients commonly exhibit upward deviation of the eyes, staring, or strabismus. Focal manifestations—including facial twitching and thumb jerking—are especially prominent, frequently accompanied by fixed upward gaze, eye deviation, or a blank stare, along with pupillary dilation.

3. Hypocalcemia

In children with hypocalcemia, neuromuscular excitability is abnormally elevated, potentially leading to muscle spasms, emotional instability, and irritability. Thus, if your child frequently rolls their eyes upward, closely observe whether other abnormal symptoms are present.

Additional Information: Normal Causes of Eye-Rolling in Children

1. Dreaming

Children also dream at night. During dreaming, the brain’s neural activity is influenced by daytime memories, enabling simple recall within dreams. As children remain in a semi-sleep, semi-wakeful state while dreaming, upward eye-rolling may occur. Consequently, eye-rolling—as well as smiling or crying—during sleep is entirely normal.

2. Immature Development

During infancy and early childhood, both organ systems and neural tissue—including the central nervous system—are still developing. Neurological immaturity plays a particularly critical role. Due to underdeveloped neural regulation, infants and toddlers may exhibit various involuntary movements during sleep—including rolling over, kicking legs, crying, laughing, or rolling their eyes upward. Therefore, isolated upward eye-rolling during sleep is generally not a cause for concern, provided no pathological condition is involved.

The above outlines potential causes of upward eye-rolling in children. We hope this information proves helpful.