The month of August is observed as Children’s eye health and safety month. Here at CPR Savers, we value children’s health more than anything else. According to statistics, one out of 20 children between the ages of three and five have a serious eye problem., and if not treated on time could result in permanent vision loss or impairment. As summer comes to an end and kids get ready to go back to school, they expose their eyesight to a lot of dangerous things like dust particles, UV sunlight, playing sports without protective eyewear, etc. Common signs of concern about eye health are:
- Frequent rubbing of the eyes
- Squinting
- Tilting
- Turning the head to look at objects
What can adults do ?
Parents should make their child's vision health a priority because if not attended to immediately, it can lead to serious health issues. However, simple and easy steps can be taken to protect not only the children’s eyesight but yours as well.
- Eating Healthy: Having a nutrient-rich diet is essential in keeping your eyes healthy. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein (a type of organic pigment called carotenoid), zinc, and vitamins C and E help ward off eye-related problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Wear Sunglasses: Exposure to too many UV rays can be harmful to the eyes by increasing the chances of cataracts and macular degeneration. However, the right pair of shades can help you protect your eyes. Choose a pair that blocks 99% to 100% UV rays. Though some people prefer to wear contacts, it is still a good idea to wear sunglasses for an extra layer of protection.
- Use Safety Eyewear: When working with chemicals in school, especially in science classes, children get exposed to a lot of different hazardous chemicals which can be harmful to the eyes. To reduce this risk, the teacher must require students to wear safety goggles when around chemicals. Additionally, children that play sports must wear eye protective gear to prevent eye injury. Helmets or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses will shield your eyes.
- Look away from the screen: In today's world, everything has become digitalized. From the children’s classes to their homework everything is in front of a screen. Staring at a computer screen or phone screen for too long can cause eyestrain, blurry vision, dry eyes, headaches, etc. To protect children’s eyes from the screen, make sure that their glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and good for looking at a computer screen. The easiest way to solve this issue is to monitor their screen time and make sure that the children are not straining their eyes.
- Pay the eye doctor a regular visit: Everyone needs a regular eye exam, even children. Eye exams are crucial because they help detect eye diseases at their earliest stage – when they are most treatable. Regular eye exams give your eye care professional a chance to help you correct or adapt to vision changes and provide you with tips on caring for your eyes.
Sources:
National Today, Children's Eye helath and Saftey Month
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