Children are constantly developing. Clear eyesight is an important part of their growth and must be maintained from an early age. From scheduling regular visits to see your kid’s eye doctor to eating a healthy diet, here are some simple ways you can protect your child’s vision.
Undetected vision problems can impact your child’s development and performance, both inside and outside the classroom. That’s why, as a parent, it’s important to watch out for any signs that your child might have a vision problem and recognize when it’s time to visit your kid’s eye doctor.
Some signs you need to watch out for include:
- Frequent squinting
- Excessive rubbing of eyes
- Sitting too close to the TV or holding hand-held devices too close to the eyes
- Complaints of headaches and eye pain
- Difficulty concentrating on schoolwork
Optimal vision is crucial to the learning process and poor vision can cause many problems for school-aged children. It’s important to be aware of your child’s overall eye health and know what you can do to safeguard it.
Our Calgary Eye Doctors Provide Comprehensive Eye Health Services for Children
At our Calgary eye clinic in Sunridge Mall, our friendly and knowledgeable eye doctors provide comprehensive services for children. From eye exams to emergency eye care, contact lens fittings, and finding the right eyeglasses for your kid, we can help identify any vision problems early on and offer effective and quick management to safeguard your little one’s vision.
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CONTACT OUR CALGARY EYE DOCTORS
7 Tips for Protecting Your Child’s Vision
As a parent, you are likely always trying to do what is best for your child’s development. This is also true when it comes to their eyesight. At our Calgary eye clinic, our eye doctors can help ensure that your kid’s vision is taken care of as they grow.
Here are some steps you can take at home to ensure you’re doing whatever you can to protect your child’s eye health:
1. Schedule regular eye exams:
It is recommended that you bring your child in for an eye exam from as early as six months of age. Early detection and treatment can stop the progression of any disorder. Keeping up with your child’s eye exams as they grow older will allow your optometrist to follow your kid’s visual development at every stage and help protect their eyesight if any changes are found along the way.
How to Prepare Your Child for an Eye Exam
2. Know your family’s eye health history:
Many ocular conditions are passed down through the gene pool, so keep in mind that if a family member has been diagnosed with a vision disorder, your child may be at a higher risk of developing them as well. By discussing your family history with your child’s eye doctor, you will ensure that any conditions which may arise will be detected and effectively managed before they progress.
3. Encourage your child to eat a healthy diet:
Incorporate as many fruits and vegetables into your child’s diet as you can. These contain many different vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain healthy eyes and vision. Keep in mind that your child will imitate your behaviour most of the time — so set a good example and include healthy foods on your plate as well.
3 Healthy Eating Habits That Can Protect Your Vision
4. Make sure your child wears sunglasses when outside:
Wearing sunglasses will protect your child’s eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Excessive exposure to UV radiation over time has been linked to an increased risk of serious ocular diseases later on in life. Make sure to find a pair of sunglasses that offer 100 per cent UV protection.
5. Always make sure they wear protective eyewear:
To protect your child’s eyes and vision, make sure they wear protective eyewear during all sports activities. This is essential for protection against serious eye injuries.
How to Lower Your Child’s Risk of Eye Injuries
6. Limit your child’s use of digital devices.
Prolonged screen time can be harmful to their eyes and may cause blurry vision, focusing problems, and an increased risk of developing myopia. Make sure to limit their screen time every day and ensure that your little one takes frequent breaks when using any digital device.
7. Keep chemicals and sharp objects out of reach:
Keep any cleaning supplies or detergents that contain harmful chemicals out of your child’s reach to avoid any eye emergencies. If you have any kitchen or office supplies that are sharp or pointy, put them somewhere high enough so that your child won’t be able to get a hold of them.
Book a Children’s Eye Exam Today
If you are concerned about your child’s eyesight, or your little one is due for their first eye exam, our Calgary eye doctors can provide comprehensive services to ensure your family’s vision is always protected. To find out more or to book a children’s eye exam, contact our eye clinic at 403-280-7518 or fill in our online contact form.
FAQs
Q: How often should school-aged children have eye exams?
For school-aged children, it is recommended that you schedule eye exams once every two years if no vision correction is required. However, if your child wears eyeglasses, then their eyes should be examined annually, or as recommended by your optometrist.
Q: Is my child ready to wear contact lenses?
Children as young as eight years old can benefit from wearing contact lenses. If you think your child is responsible and mature enough to handle contact lenses, it’s time to visit your eye doctor.
Q: What is the recommended digital device usage for children?
It is recommended that children and teenagers should have no more than two hours of screen time. There should be no screen time for children under the age of two.
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