Back to School Healthy Eye Tips | Children’s Eye Health

Fall is just around the corner, and for millions of children, that means back to school. As the summer winds down, it’s a good time to prepare for the school year ahead. One way to start off on the right foot is to make sure your child’s vision is protected, and their eyesight is good.

August is Children’s Eye Health Month. The blog below takes a look at common eye problems in children and eye tips to start the school year right. 
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Common eye problems in kids

Kids can develop many of the same eye problems as adults, such as cataracts or glaucoma, but those conditions occur less frequently in children. Some of the more common eye problems in kids include the following:

Refractive errors: Refractory errors may include myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, about 20 percent of children have some type of refractory error.

Hyperopia also called farsightedness, involves problems seeing objects up close. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the opposite and involves problems seeing objects in the distance.  Refractory errors are often correctible with eyeglasses.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye): A lazy eye involves poor vision in one eye. It can occur due to untreated eye issues, such as cataracts and refractory errors.

Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis involves inflammation of the white part of the eye. It can develop either from an allergic, bacterial, or viral infection. Although it does not impact vision, symptoms can be bothersome and include:

• Tearing
• Redness
• Itching
• A sticky discharge from the eyes

Stye: A stye is a red bump on the edge of the eyelid. It can occur on the top or bottom eyelid. It most often occurs due to a bacterial infection. In most cases, a stye is treated at home with warm compresses and possibly antibiotic eye drops. Although a stye does not affect vision, it can become painful. 

​Eye tips to start the school year

Good eye habits are beneficial for kids of all ages. Preventing eye problems before they start is always your best option. Below are several ways to encourage healthy vision this school year.

Have an eye exam before school starts. Having an eye exam is one of the best ways to make sure your child does not have a vision problem or visual disorders.

Encourage outdoor play or sports. For little ones, playing outside helps their eyes perceive different colors and adjust to objects at various proximities. This is beneficial for healthy eye development. Children of any age can benefit from playing sports and getting exercise, which also promotes healthy eyes.

Teach frequent handwashing. Children have a habit of touching their faces, including rubbing their eyes. This can easily spread germs and lead to an eye infection. Although it sounds simple, teaching children to wash their hands often may prevent spreading bacteria into their eyes.  

Promote proper contact lens use. Contact lenses may be an option even for young children. Right from the start, make sure your child knows the proper handling of contacts and wears them as directed.

Watch for signs of vision problems. Be aware of signs your child may have a vision problem, such as:

• Frequent headaches
• Squinting often
• Eye strain
• Placing a book, phone, or tablet close to the face

Give the eyes a break. Whether it is from cellphones or homework, it is helpful to give the eyes a break to reduce eyestrain. Teach kids to look away from their digital devices every half hour for at least a few minutes. Also, contact lenses may be a great option for kids, but they can dry the eyes. Encourage your kids to wear their glasses instead of contacts occasionally.

We hope the information above helps you start the school year out right. If you would like to ask whether an appointment with one of our eye doctors would be appropriate at this time, call our office at 508-746-8600.