Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month: More Than Just a Vision Test
Welcome to August! As summer winds down and the back-to-school checklists come out, it's the perfect time to focus on a crucial part of your child's well-being: their vision.
August is nationally recognized as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and it’s a vital reminder that clear vision is about more than just seeing the board. A child’s ability to learn, play, and interact with the world is directly tied to the health of their eyes.
We know you've got a lot on your plate, so we're breaking down the top three areas to focus on this month to set your child up for a year of success.
1. The "School Screening" vs. The "Comprehensive Exam"
Many parents believe the vision screening offered at school or the pediatrician's office is enough. While these screenings are a great tool for catching major issues, they are not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam.
A school screening typically only checks for visual acuity (how clearly your child can see at a distance).
A comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist, on the other hand, is a deep dive into your child's total eye health. We check for:
- Refractive Errors: Nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
- Binocular Vision: How the eyes work together as a team.
- Eye Tracking: The ability to follow a moving object or track a line of text in a book.
- Focusing Ability: How well the eyes shift focus from near to far.
- Overall Eye Health: We examine the internal and external structures of the eye for any signs of disease or underlying health conditions.
Undetected problems in these areas can lead to difficulty reading, poor concentration, and even be misdiagnosed as behavioral issues.
2. Safety on the Field: Don't Play Blind
Is your child signing up for soccer, field hockey, or football this fall? We often remember helmets and shin guards, but eye protection is frequently overlooked.
According to Prevent Blindness, thousands of children suffer from sports-related eye injuries every year, and 90% of them are preventable.
- What to do: If your child plays a sport, ask us about protective eyewear.
- What to look for: Sports goggles should be made of polycarbonate, a high-impact-resistant material. Regular eyeglasses or sunglasses do not offer adequate protection and can even shatter on impact, causing more severe injury.
3. Taming Digital Eye Strain (The 20-20-20 Rule)
After a summer of increased screen time, the transition back to school often means swapping one screen (a tablet) for another (a school-issued laptop or smartboard). All this digital device use can lead to digital eye strain.
If your child complains of headaches, dry eyes, or blurred vision, this may be the culprit.
- What to do: Teach your child the 20-20-20 Rule.
- How it works: For every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This simple habit gives their eye muscles a chance to relax and reset.
When to Schedule an Exam
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends a child's first comprehensive eye exam between 6 and 12 months, at least once between ages 3 and 5, and then annually before first grade.
Even if no problems are apparent, it's crucial to watch for subtle signs.
Schedule an appointment if you notice your child:
- Squinting or tilting their head to see
- Frequently rubbing their eyes
- Sitting too close to the TV or holding books close to their face
- Losing their place while reading
- Complaining of headaches or "tired eyes"
Set Them Up for Success
A child's world is visual. This August, give them the best possible tool for success by prioritizing their eye health and safety. From the classroom to the sports field, clear, comfortable, and safe vision is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Don't wait for the school year to be in full swing. Call The Eye Place today at 804-794-3937 or schedule an appointment online for your child's comprehensive exam.