Child Eye Care Tips from Your Lapel Eye Doctors

It’s hard to believe the school year has approached us already. We understand that all of you parents out there are rushing around to purchase school supplies, sign your child up for sports, attend orientations, and provide immunizations to your children. These are all items that need to be completed before your child starts the school year. Another important priority that can sometimes be forgotten is to have a comprehensive eye exam at your Lapel Eye Doctors office for your child each school year. Of course, this is all dependent on your child’s age, but it is something to keep in mind for the overall health of their eyes.

It is recommended by the American Optometric Association (AOA), that children between 5 and 6 should have a comprehensive eye exam, this would be just before they enter kindergarten or the first grade. After this age, a child should have their eyes examined every two years unless there is a change in their vision or they wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. If there is a change in their vision, such as they are showing signs that there may be a problem, please set up an appointment with Lapel Eye Doctors Dr. Amy Walden & Associates

Signs To Look Out For if Your Child is Having Eye Problems:

• Sitting close to the television
• Tilting their head
• Holding a book close to their face
• Squinting
• Either or both eyes turning in
• Shorter attention span than normal
• Eye sensitivity to light
• Rubbing their eyes frequently
• Problems with eye-hand-body coordination
• Avoiding activities they usually partake in

Keeping an eye on your chid’s eye health will not only protect their overall wellbeing but it will help them to focus more in school. School also brings bacteria infections and passing along germs among the students. Children take part in many physical activities throughout the day such as gym, recess, sports. Children spend a lot of time staring at computer screens, training for sports programs, and staring at whiteboards and chalkboards for hours on end. All of these activities require good eye health care and safety requirements for your child. Dr. Amy Walden & Associates, your Lapel Eye Doctors would like to take a few minutes to go over important safety tips that will assist in providing better health for you child’s eyes.

Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam with your Lapel Eye Doctors:

Your eye doctor will be able to detect any vision problems that may be occurring in your child’s eyes. Early detection is very critical for overall eye health. Loss of focus in school can be a result of your child experiencing vision issues. They may lose interest, experience headaches, or lag behind peers because of they need new eyeglasses.

Proper Hygiene:

Children are exposed to germs nonstop daily. Some children forget to wash their hands, then touch desks, lockers, computer keyboards and many other shared items throughout the day. It is quite possible to spread these germs to their eyes which can cause eye infections such as acute conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Three million school days are lost each year due to pink eye. It is important to teach your children to not only regularly wash their hands, but to try and not rub or touch their eyes.

Give Kid’s Eyes a Break:

Whether it’s reading a book, playing games/texting on their mobile devices, or staring at the computer screens, your child needs a break. Remind them to take breaks and often. The best rule to follow is the 20/20/20. Take a break every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away, and for at least 20 seconds.

Protective Eyewear Should Be Worn During Activities:

Children engaging in sports should learn to protect their eyes. Parents/siblings should be role models and also wear protective eyewear when they play sports or physical activities. Wearing goggles, helmets with face shields will drastically decrease the risk of eye injuries.

Purchase Sunglasses with UV Protection: 

A variety of sporting events that your child takes part in will take place outdoors. Harmful rays can lead to cataracts or other vision diseases. Purchasing UV, blue-blocking, or polarized lenses are good choices to protect your child’s eyes. Dr. Amy Walden & Associates, your Lapel Eye Doctors have multiple styles that your child can choose from.

Visit Your Lapel Eye Doctors Today For More Tips On Eye Health

All of these helpful tips can be a good start to protecting your child’s eyes. A great takeaway is to schedule their eye exam when you schedule their annual physical. It is important as parents to teach them at a young age to care for their eyes and overall health.