Eyecare for Teens

Whether you have a teen in high school or are sending your child off to college, keeping them healthy is a priority. Although everyone is different, some teenagers juggle school, extracurricular activities, and friends. Your teen's eye health and vision may not immediately come to mind, but keeping your teen's eyes as healthy as possible sets that stage for the decades ahead. Here are some tips and suggestions to help your teen maintain good vision and healthy eyes. 

Eye problems in teens

While teens can develop certain eye conditions that occur more frequently in middle age or older adults, such as cataracts and glaucoma, these conditions are uncommon in teenagers. But teens are at risk for certain other vision and eye issues, such as the following: 

Myopia: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, myopia, which is nearsightedness, is a common vision problem that can occur in childhood. It may increase during adolescence and stabilize in young adulthood. 

Those with nearsightedness can see close objects clearly, but distant objects are blurry. Symptoms may include: 

• Frequent eye rubbing 
• Squinting to try to see clearer
• Frequent headaches 

Glasses or contact lenses can help improve vision in teens with myopia. 

Scratched cornea: Anyone of any age can sustain a scratched cornea. Cornea scratches can occur in teens through sports, poor-fitting contact lenses, and getting dirt or sand in the eye. 

Symptoms of a cornea scratch include: 

• Feeling like something is stuck in the eye
• Watery eyes
• Eye pain 
• Blurry vision 
• Redness 

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Treatment may depend on the severity of the scratch. Typically, treatment may include wearing a patch over the eye, antibiotic eye drops, and moisturizing eye drops to soothe discomfort. 

Eyestrain: It is no surprise that teenagers are at risk of eyestrain. Teens often spend several hours a day on electronic devices between laptops, cellphones, and video games. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry, on average, teens spend about nine hours a day on their screens. This can lead to symptoms of eyestrain, including: 

• Dry eyes
• Sore eyes
• Burning 
• Blurred or double vision 

Treatment for eyestrain involves taking frequent breaks from digital devices and using artificial tears. 

​Eye health tips for teens

Although every child is different, teens are often old enough to take charge of their well-being. Some teens may still need a few reminders, but helping to encourage healthy eye habits in the teen years can promote good vision for years to come. Consider the following tips: 

Make eye protection a priority: Teach teens the importance of good eye protection, such as sunglasses and protective eyewear for sports. Model good choices and healthy eyecare habits. 

Don't smoke: Smoking can lead to adverse health effects, and that includes an increased risk of eye issues. Talk with your teen about the dangers of smoking and encourage quitting if they already smoke. 

Consider contacts: Some teens with vision problems may need eyeglasses. Contact lenses are a good option for teens who might become self-conscious with glasses. Usually, teens are older enough to handle their own contact lens care. 

Set limits for digital devices: Try to limit the use of digital devices, such as phones and video games. Some use of computers is probably needed for school assignments, but work on reducing the use of social media and other non-essential screen time. 

We hope by being aware of vision and eye issues that can affect your teen, you can help them make healthy choices. If you have any additional eye health questions, we are happy to help. 

Also, 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. 
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