*Originally posted 8/12/15
As we see students get ready to go back to school, it is vital that we do whatever we can to best help them succeed. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Eye health is an important issue, regardless of age, for a multitude of safety reasons. However, it’s an even more important issue for kids. If a child has problems with their eyes, not only can it cause safety concerns, it can negatively affect their ability to do well in school, which can have disastrous long-term effects.
The majority of kids have healthy eyes, but of course not all of them do. It’s almost impossible to simply look at your child’s eyes and be able to tell that there is something wrong. However, there are some signs that you can look out for, that might point to potentially serious eye problems. Parents and teachers should be on the lookout for the following signs:
- Crossed or wandering eyes
- Headaches
- Disinterest in reading or viewing far-away objects
- Feeling dizzy or nauseous after close-up work
- A family history of childhood vision problems
- Closing or covering one eye
- Turning the head in an unusual manner or squinting while watching television
- Watery or red eyes
Some parents wonder “If my kid is sitting really close to the TV, or holds their books close to their face, should I be concerned about their sight?” For younger kids, that is perfectly normal. It can be hard for young eyes to focus if there is a lot going on. If they move closer to the TV or book, it can help their eyes focus on the material. As they get older, though, this is a habit they should naturally drop. Feel free to talk to your child’s pediatrician if you ever have any concerns.
While there may not be much you can do in regards to vision impairments that your child is born with, you are not helpless when it comes to their eye safety. According to the Health Alliance Plan,
“More than 12 million children suffer from vision impairment, and eye injuries are one of the leading causes of vision loss in children. There are an estimated 42,000 sports-related eye injuries each year, and the majority of them happen to children.”
What can you do to make sure your kids’ eyes are safe? Prevent Blindness states that “Of children ages 3 to 5, close to one in 2 has a problem that could result in permanent vision loss if left untreated. The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that 80 percent of preschoolers do not receive vision screenings.” First, take your kid to regular eye screenings. Second, make sure they wear protective eyewear when appropriate. This could be sunglasses or goggles. You can also make sure they are playing with age-appropriate toys. They should be avoiding toys with sharp or protruding parts, and should always be careful when around fireworks and firearms. The most important thing you can do, however, is to model good behavior yourself. If we want to see a brighter future for our children, we should start by making sure our children can see.
If you’re in the Houston area, and want more resources about children’s eye health or free/low-cost eye screenings and glasses, check out the following sites:
http://www.eyecareforkids.org/
http://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/free-exam.htm
.