As a parent, it’s important to be mindful of your child’s eyesight. Just like their teeth, your eyes are a vulnerable part of the body that if mistreated are going to be damaged over time.
There are many causes for poor eyesight but there are plenty of ways to help ensure your child has a good vision for as long as possible. If you’re already a wearer of glasses or contact lenses, you’ll appreciate how useful it is to have 20/20 vision. With this being said, here are some tips that will help look after your children’s eyesight in the future.
Minimize device usage for tablets and mobile phones
It seems like all new generations nowadays are growing up with a mobile phone or tablet in their hands. Grateful generations above will appreciate the ability to switch off their electronic devices but for younger generations, it’s not so easy.
It’s useful for a parent to try and minimize screen time and device usage when it comes to their tablets and mobile phones. Too much screen time can do some damage to their eyesight, especially if they’re spending hours on it at a time.
Not only that but if they’re using these devices late at night, their eyes will naturally start straining in order to see the screen. This only gets worse when they’re tired. With that being said, set times in the day or evening when screen time isn’t allowed. It’ll help curb their reliance on these electronics too.
Ensure they’re wearing sunglasses when out and about
When they’re out and about, make sure they’re wearing sunglasses if the sun is shining. As children, they may find themselves looking up at the sky and towards the sun. Obviously, this is dangerous for your eyes as it’s burning away that exposed tissue on the eyes.
For children though, they don’t know that until they’re told not to. Sunglasses can help them enjoy the sunshine without having to worry about damaging their eyesight. It’s also great for helping them avoid squinting when the sun gets too bright. Children’s eyesight is a little more vulnerable, especially when they’re still developing.
Teach young children the importance of eye safety
The importance of eye safety goes beyond just their early years. The potential damage caused now could have a long-lasting effect on their eye health in the future. With that being said, be mindful of young children when it comes to eye safety.
For example, make sure they know to wash out their eyes with sterile water when there’s a potential infection or something has gotten into their eye. Ensure they’re not poking anything into their eye that could cause damage. There are a lot of simple eye safety tips that as an adult, you’d know, but for children, they won’t learn until they’re told.
Encourage them to let you know if they’re having any trouble with their eyesight or if there is any pain or discomfort within the eye itself.
Get regular opticians checkups
Regular opticians checkups are essential for children and should be introduced from a young age. Just like other healthcare appointments, a trip to Merivale Vision Care is a must. It’s worthwhile getting them used to the opticians from a young age, especially as the experience can be a little daunting.
By providing them with eye care from an early age, it’s helpful to ensure they are being checked over properly and have any potential underlying problems ruled out.
Provide them with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
Fresh fruit and vegetables are great for eye health and for the little one’s health in general. Make sure you’re incorporating plenty of fruit and vegetables that are known for being good for eyesight. These include:
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Green leafy vegetables.
The more fruit and veg they have in their diet, the better it’ll be for their health in general so ensure they’re getting their five a day every day.
Be mindful of any changes in their vision
It’s important to be mindful of any changes within their vision. As a parent, it’s easy enough to notice something different in your child’s behavior or mood. This may be done to a problem with their eyesight whether it’s noticeable now or not. Make sure to be mindful and to question if they’re experiencing any pain or sudden change in their eyesight.
Looking after your children’s eyesight is essential so with that being said, be mindful, attentive, and encouraging toward your child’s eyesight this year and beyond.