Bryan |
Too much screen time and studying have an
adverse effect on our eyesight and may result in myopia (short-sightedness)
over time. In Asia, myopia has become somewhat of an epidemic and 80 to 90% of
students are afflicted with short-sightedness by the time they leave school.
While we get our children to eat healthy
foods, exercise and brush their teeth, we don’t always know how to help them
take care of their eyes. A healthy lifestyle, regulated screen time and regular
checkups with the optometrist can catch problems early on so you can take steps
to mitigate damage.There are several symptoms to watch for
which can tell you that your child may need glasses.
Signs
that your Child needs Glasses
While most children become accustomed to
eyestrain and may not notice blurriness, they do experience physical symptoms
which can help to highlight problems. When eyes are strained, it can cause
headaches, tearing, red eyes and excessive eye rubbing.
If you notice your child squinting, closing
one eye or moving objects closer to them or further away, it may be time for a
trip to the optometrist. Wanting to sit really close to the television or
computer screen and sensitivity to light are also important indicators that your
child may have a visual impairment.
Struggling with hand-eye coordination and
losing interest in books or other work that requires good eyesight may be
important signs that they need glasses.
If you want to test your child’s eyesight
at home, use the University of Buffalo’s IVAC tool
which allows you to use the computer to measure eyesight. Of course this isn’t
a definitive test and you should still see a professional, but it may be a good
way to check progress between visits to the optometrist.
How
Often Should My Kids Go to the Optometrist?
Babies get their eyesight tested when they
are born and should have another test at around 6 months. After that, routine
tests every two years with a registered optometrist should ensure that any
issues are caught in time. If you child already has glasses, annual check-ups
are required.
Myopia results from too much screen time
and not enough vitamin D so institute limitations on how many hours your
children spend in front of a screen and try to get them outside for at least
two hours a day.
When children are studying or working on
the computer, encourage regular breaks and looking out of the window; adjusting
to distance will help keep eyes in shape.
Limiting screen time, getting sunshine and
a healthy diet with all the vitamins and minerals are great ways to maintain
healthy eyesight for your children.
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