5 Vision Care Tips for Kids
Sight is the most precious of our five senses, and it’s crucial that we take care of our vision from a very young age. The first few years of a child’s life are the most important, as this is when they develop neural connections which form the basis of their vision.
Children’s learning depends on how well they can see since about 80% of what they learn is visual. If a child cannot see what is on the blackboard or follow along in their books, they will fall behind which will impact how well they develop.
Signs of Vision Problems in Children
As parents, it’s our responsibility to look out for our children and make sure their vision develops at the pace it should. Here are a few signs to watch out for that might indicate your child suffers from vision problems:
Frequently complaining of headaches
Constant eye rubbing
Unnatural sensitivity to light
Persistent redness and tearing
Trouble reading on the blackboard
Squinting
Difficulty reading or following along in their books
Sitting too close to the television
Avoiding sports and other activities needing near vision
Poor hand-eye coordination
Have attention or hyperactivity issues
Many eye problems stay undetected, as it is often difficult for parents to see that their child has vision problems. Apart from looking out for the signs, follow these five early vision care tips which will help to prevent vision problems from going undetected and help children’s eyes stay healthy.
1. Regular Eye Exams
A child’s first vision test should be between 2 and 3 years of age. Thereafter, the vision should be tested every 2 years. Some schools offer vision screening services which can detect some eye problems, but not all. Some conditions like near vision, eye coordination, the ability to focus, and amblyopia are often missed. For example, amblyopia, also called lazy eye, is when one of the eyes doesn’t receive a clear image due to the wiring of the eyes not being developed properly. Amblyopia is a serious condition that needs early intervention to develop proper vision in the weaker eye. After 5 years of age, amblyopia is often impossible to correct.
A thorough eye exam via an optometrist or ophthalmologist is recommended every 2 years.
2. Healthy Diet for Healthy Eyes
The #1 cause of vision loss and blindness worldwide is Vitamin A deficiency. This is directly linked to consuming saturated fats from animal sources and simple carbohydrates and refined sugars (ie., GMO crops such as wheat, corn, soy; root vegetables) that over time cannot be easily broken down in the gut and lead to liver disease and vitamin deficiencies.
Focus on having a nutrient-dense plant-based diet which are rich in fresh fruits and veggies of every color. Here are a few foods that are essential to healthy eyes and foods that should be avoided:
Eating dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and swiss chard along with herbs like parsley, cilantro, and mint
Eating dark berries that are rich in lutein like blueberries and blackberries
Drinking lots of water to produce enough tears to keep the eyes moist and nourished
Avoiding sugar, processed and pre-packaged ready-made food, bread and processed pasta since they all produce excess glucose that is harmful to the eyes
Avoid animal protein. For infant choose breastfeeding whenever possible since infant formula often contains grains which babies cannot digest and eventually leads to vitamin deficiencies, liver disease and clogged up blood vessels filled with fat plaques.
3. Protect from Eye Injuries
It’s important for your child to know how to be protected from getting eye injuries. Here are a few specific ways to prevent eye injuries:
Wearing eye protection when playing high-risk sports like baseball, football, basketball, and paintball
Stay away from harmful chemicals
Be careful how to safely use sharp objects (i.e., scissors, knives, and paper clips)
Buying age appropriate toys that won’t hurt children
Keep kids protected from dog attacks since 15% of children attacked by dogs get an eye injury
4. Limit Screen Time
Screens, like an Ipad, computer, phone, or TV, dry and tire out the eyes since we blink 50% less when in front of a screen. People may develop itchy eyes, blurry vision, eye strain, or fatigue when exposed to too much screen time. Here are a few guidelines to follow:
Try to avoid all electronic use in children less than 3 years of age.
Limit screen time to less than 30 minutes per day between the ages of 3 to 5.
The distance from an electronic screen and book should be an arm’s length, and at least 5 feet from a TV screen.
Make sure there is good lighting in the room when reading, doing homework, or sitting in front of a screen
5. Get some sun but not too much of it.
Too much exposure to UV light increases the risk of getting an eye disease later in life, such as cataract, benign eye growths, or eye cancer. Follow these guidelines to help protect your eyes from too much UV exposure:
Wear hats and sunglasses with UV protection when outdoors
Avoid direct mid-day sun exposure whenever possible
Teach children to never look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse
Remember the reflection from snow and water is also dangerous
August is Children’s Vision and Learning Month, to create awareness of the correlation between children’s vision and their ability to learn and develop at a healthy pace. Vision problems that go undetected often lead to poor performance and poor self-confidence.
Follow these early vision care tips and look out for the telltale signs to make sure your child doesn’t become a victim of poor vision.
AUTHOR
Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. is one of U.S.'s top leading integrative functional medical physicians and the founder of SF Advanced Health. She combines the best in Eastern and Western Medicine to understand the root causes of diseases and provide patients with personalized treatment plans that quickly deliver effective results. Dr. Bhandari specializes in cell function to understand how the whole body works. Dr. Bhandari received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1997 and Doctor of Medicine degree in 2001 from West Virginia University. She the completed her Family Medicine residency in 2004 from the University of Massachusetts and joined a family medicine practice in 2005 which was eventually nationally recognized as San Francisco’s 1st patient-centered medical home. To learn more, go to www.sfadvancedhealth.com.