Building Healthy Eye Habits at the Start of the School Year | Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Many parents start the school year focusing on buying school supplies, arranging transportation, and registering for extracurricular activities. But there is one area that is sometimes put on the back burner or overlooked: establishing healthy eye habits. 

Your child's vision can be critical to their academic performance. Children rely on their eyes throughout the school day to use computers, participate in class, and read and write. Vision problems can affect learning, confidence, and participation in extracurricular activities such as sports.
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August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. It is the perfect time of year to start developing healthy habits that help protect your child's vision. 

Continue reading for suggestions on how to start the school year right and encouragement on developing lifelong eye health habits. 
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Start the school year with a comprehensive eye exam

The start of the new academic year is the perfect time to have your child get a comprehensive eye exam. A comprehensive exam evaluates more than just your child's visual acuity. It detects eye diseases and evaluates how well your child's eyes work together. Identifying problems early in the school year allows your child to get glasses or treat any visual issues before they become a problem. 

Promote healthy screen habits

Digital devices are clearly here to stay. Depending on your child's teacher and their age, technology may be a part of their education. Additionally, many kids spend some of their recreational time using their phone, tablet, or computer. Extended screen use can lead to digital strain, headaches, and blurred vision. Talk to your child about responsible screen habits and encourage them to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, your child should look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

Encourage your child to spend time outdoors

With all the modern options for indoor entertainment such as video games, computers, and cell phones, children are often spending more time indoors. However, outdoor play provides benefits, including getting regular exercise and fresh air. Encourage your child to spend time outside playing games, going to the park, riding bikes, or just enjoying recess. Better yet, go outside with them and have some fun.

Wear sunglasses

Damage from ultraviolet radiation from the sun is cumulative. Get your children sunglasses that block 100% of UVB and UVA rays, and remind them to wear them when outside. Encourage wearing baseball caps when possible to provide extra sun protection. 

Encourage eye protection during sports as appropriate

Participating in sports is a great way for your child to get exercise and stay active. It helps develop teamwork and confidence, all while having fun. But depending on the sport, it can also carry a risk of eye injury. Encourage your child to wear sports eyewear made from impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses when appropriate. This may be when participating in sports such as racquet sports, hockey, and baseball.

Promote good eye hygiene

Children often touch their faces and eyes throughout the day without even realizing it. The germs on their hands can easily spread into their eyes. Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and avoid rubbing their eyes as much as possible. For children who wear contact lenses, encourage them to always wash their hands before handling their lenses. Older children should also be advised not to share eye makeup, which can also spread bacteria and increase the risk of an eye infection. 

Set good examples 

Children learn healthy habits from their parents. This means wearing your own sunglasses,  getting regular exercise, taking breaks from your computer screen, and scheduling regular eye exams. Modeling healthy habits can make a lasting difference in your own eye health as well as your child's. 

Back-to-school time is a great time to develop routines that promote healthy vision habits and support your child's success both in the classroom and out. 

If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.