Keeping children's eyes healthy starts early! Every year in August, we recognize children’s eye health and safety. During this month, we put an emphasis on regular screening exams and maintaining vision health from an early age.
There are steps you can take to keep babies’ and children’s eyes healthy and protected. Limiting screen times is one way to keep children's eyes healthy. Babies and children should not be staring at screens for long periods. If they do watch television or use a tablet, limiting screen time to less than two hours per day is recommended. Instead of screen time, try to encourage more outdoor play and reading. If children are going to have screen time, make sure that sessions are supervised and short.
When children start school, it’s even more important to stay up to date on eye screenings and exams to set them up for success. If your kid uses a computer to study, make sure the screen is at eye level and that it’s about at arm’s length away. Several study breaks every hour will also give their eyes a needed break. Also, if children are going to play sports and or play outside, there’s steps to take to keep their eyes safe. For example, we encourage using glasses when playing baseball or playing outside and goggles when swimming. Because the sun can be damaging to kids’ eyes, when going outside, children can use hats and sunglasses.
Common vision problems in children include nearsightedness and farsightedness. Because some symptoms like blurry vision and headaches can be associated, it’s important to take the child to the doctor if you notice this. If you notice frequent eye squinting and tilting of the head, make sure to get a comprehensive eye exam for the child. Make sure to take kids for their routine vision screens about every 1-2 years or sooner if you notice and concern.
We also encourage keeping a healthy lifestyle to protect children’s vision throughout the years. Having a good sleep routine is key and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables filled with vitamins can help maintain the eyes from the inside out. Dark leafy greens and eating colorful vegetables (especially orange toned fruits and vegetables) will help increase your child’s intake of vitamins, minerals, and lutein which may help with eye health.
Dr. Adonai Paz is a resident physician who sees patients of all ages and provides obstetrical services at Lone Star Family Health Center, a non-profit 501©3 Federally Qualified Health Center operating facilities in Conroe, Spring, Willis, Grangerland, and Huntsville, and serving as home to a fully integrated Family Medicine Residency Program to increase the number of Family Medicine physicians for Texas and our community.
