Children’s eye health and safety

August is Children’s eye health and safety month. With lock-down and Covid shutting schools down for extended periods of time and most of the schooling being done online now. They would be spending more time on their digital devices, watching tv or playing games. This can create digital eye strain and the need for glasses, or an eye test may arise.

Before schools reopen officially again it is a good time to get your child’s eyes tested.

A good starting age to get your child’s eyes examined is around the age of three. You should have a thorough eye exam done as your optometrist can detect refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism at this age.

There are a few other diseases that are also detectable such as:

• Lazy eye
• Crossed eyes
• Drooping of the eyelid
•  Color blindness

There are some warning signs that your child may have a vision problem, some of them include:

• Wandering or crossed eyes
• A family history of childhood vision problems
• Disinterest in reading or viewing objects at a distance
• Squinting or turning their head in an unusual way while watching TV

If you suspect your child may have a vision problem, you can make an appointment with your local Optical Alliance optometrist for testing. Keeping your children’s eyes safe is another part of ensuring healthy vision. Eye injuries can lead to loss of vision in children and with their active and adventurous lifestyle children are more susceptible to injuries in sports, or at the playground with their friends.

There are a few basic rules for your child’s eye safety:

• Your child should always wear protective eye wear while participating in sports or recreational activities.
• Purchase age-appropriate toys for your children and avoid toys with sharp parts.
•   Check your child’s eyes after a sporting activity to ensure no damage has occurred.

Book a comprehensive eye exam and take safety measures to ensure your child’s eyes remain safe & healthy!