As parents, it’s important to teach your children how to protect and care for their eyes so they can have healthy vision throughout their life. If you don’t know where to start, here are 5 tips that are important for keeping your child’s eyes healthy.
#1. Get Frequent Eye Exams
Even if your children don’t seem to be struggling with their eyesight, it is still important to schedule a yearly eye exam. Sometimes kids don’t notice changes in their vision and get used to their blurry vision, so a comprehensive eye exam is critical. This exam can check for vision problems, eyes disease, and other underlying health problems. Help your children get into this important lifelong habit now!
#2. Use Proper Eye Protection
Children are often at high risk for sports-related injuries. Make sure your child is wearing helmets and protective eyewear like safety or swimming goggles when participating in any activities that could cause an eye injury. UV radiation can also damage the eyes, so make sure to provide your child with UV filter sunglasses and help them avoid looking directly into the sun.
#3. Maintain a Healthy Diet
It may sound strange, but a nutritious diet goes hand in hand with eye health. Try to encourage your child to eat vitamin-rich foods such as carrots, leafy greens, eggs, fish, and citrus fruits. Sugary foods and drinks can cause potential eye disease later in life, so try to limit your children’s consumption of these foods. Along with healthy eating comes hydration. Make sure your child drinks plenty of water, as this is also vital for healthy eyes, as well as a healthy body.
#4. Monitor Screen Time
Digital devices are a huge part of life in today’s world, especially for children. Try to monitor the amount of screen time your child has and get them into the habit of giving their eyes a rest and taking breaks. Staring at a screen for long periods of time can strain the eyes and cause headaches, so try to encourage your children to participate in other activities, like sports or music lessons.
It may seem overwhelming, but with a few simple habits, your child’s eye health can improve drastically. All of these tips will help your child live a fuller and healthier life.