It is essential to educate your children about eye health and safety from an early age. This education should encompass an understanding of how their overall health habits influence their eyes and vision, as well as methods to protect their eyes from injury and infection. Establishing good eye care practices early on will foster a lifestyle that supports eye and vision health throughout their lives.

10 Eye Health Recommendations for Everyone:

Maintain a Healthy Diet. Consuming a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy greens like kale, spinach, and broccoli, along with omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, provides essential nutrients for optimal eye function.
Stay Active. Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to lower the risk of various eye diseases and diabetes, a condition that can lead to vision loss.
Avoid Smoking. Smoking is associated with a heightened risk of several serious eye conditions that can threaten vision.
Utilize Eye Protection. Safeguard your eyes during activities such as sports (especially high-impact sports or those involving projectiles), when handling chemicals or power tools, and while gardening. Consult your eye care professional for recommendations on appropriate protective gear for your activities to prevent significant eye injuries.
Wear Sunglasses. Shield your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UV light and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors. Never gaze directly at the sun.
Stay Vigilant: If you observe any changes in your vision, seek professional evaluation. Inform a parent or teacher if you experience eye pain or if your vision appears blurry, jumps, doubles, or if you notice spots or other unusual phenomena. Parents should monitor their children closely, as kids may not express concerns about their vision due to a lack of awareness of what constitutes normal sight. Signs such as excessive blinking, eye rubbing, unusual head tilting, or viewing objects from an unusually close distance warrant a visit to the eye doctor.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes! If you feel an irritant in your eye, refrain from rubbing it, as this could exacerbate the issue or scratch the surface of your eye. Seek assistance from a professional instead.

Allow Your Eyes to Rest. In today’s digital era, a significant concern is the posture of children when using screens like tablets or smartphones. It is essential to prevent your child from holding these devices too close to their eyes. The Harmon distance, which is the space from your chin to your elbow, represents a comfortable viewing distance and posture. There is apprehension that poor posture may negatively affect a child’s developing body. Additionally, when engaging with a television, mobile device, or computer screen for extended periods, adhere to the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break by focusing on something 20 feet away.

Establish Eye Safety Practices. Always carry sharp objects such as scissors, knives, or pencils with the pointed end facing downward. Avoid launching objects (including toys) or spraying items at others, particularly towards the head. Exercise caution when using sprays to ensure they are directed away from the eyes.

Maintain Cleanliness. Always wash your hands before touching your eyes and diligently follow your eye doctor’s guidelines for proper contact lens care. If you use makeup, ensure that you dispose of any expired products and refrain from sharing them with others.

By educating your children on fundamental eye care and safety practices, you are emphasizing the significance of preserving their valuable eyesight. As a parent, consistently encourage and remind your children to adhere to these recommendations, while also setting a positive example by practicing them yourself.

Lastly, do not overlook the most crucial advice: ensure that each family member has their eyes examined regularly by a qualified eye care professional. Keep in mind that school vision screenings and those conducted at a pediatrician’s office are not comprehensive eye exams. They primarily assess visual acuity and may overlook underlying health issues, focusing difficulties, and binocular vision problems that could lead to health and vision complications.