With winter break over, and children back in school, it is important to be aware of the possible eye care problems that can impact a child’s ability to learn and even play sports. That’s why proper eye care and regular eye exams are so critical, even for children who appear to have healthy eyesight.

According to the Optometrists Network, symptoms of vision problems include: poor school performance, difficulty paying attention or reading and writing, trouble seeing the chalkboard, blurry or double vision, headaches and taking longer to complete homework. The American Optometry Association (AOA) estimates that 60% of learning disabilities are associated with vision problems.

If a child has any symptoms of vision problems, or if other family members need corrective lenses, an eye exam is essential. The longer a vision problem goes untreated, the more the brain learns to accommodate the problem. This makes early diagnosis particularly important for children, since the eyes are so critical to effective learning in school.

The following are helpful tips to ensure healthy eyes.

  1. Keep a safe distance from the television. Three and a half meters in a well-lit room is ideal.
  2. Don’t let children stare at a computer screen or play mobile video games for long hours. Additionally, the monitor should be placed slightly lower than eye level, at a distance of 18 inches.
  3. Discourage frequent eye rubbing since this can spread germs and worsen existing eye problems. Children should only be touching their eyes after properly washing their hands.
  4. Avoid unsafe toys with sharp or jagged edges, and require the use of goggles when using chemicals and sprays.
  5. Maintain a balanced diet that includes leafy green and red vegetables like spinach and carrots, as well as yellow or orange fruits like papaya. Beta-carotene is particularly helpful for keeping eyes healthy.
  6. Use water tight swim goggles to prevent water infection.
  7. Also, ensure that children wear sunglasses to protect eyes from harmful UV rays.

To arrange an eye exam for your child, please contact our eye care specialists at 877-871-1684.

 

Leave a reply