Your child’s eyes are their window to the outside world. Because they are delicate, you must give them careful attention. Even before birth, the journey to good vision begins. Your baby gets the nutrients necessary for the best possible eye health from a balanced diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E. You should also ensure that any potential eyesight problems are detected and treated early with routine prenatal exams.
Your child’s eyesight may worsen for a variety of reasons, including pollution, stress, poor food, and others. Although the aging process of your eyes cannot be completely stopped, it can be slowed down. In this article, we will educate you on how to keep your children’s eyes healthy and safe.
how to keep children’s eyes healthy
The various ways you can ensure your children’s eye health and safety are explained below;
1. Ensure they eat a balanced and eye-friendly diet
A balanced diet will be helpful to your children’s eye health in two ways. It helps to protect the eyes from early harm in the initial stages. Vitamins C and E aid in the repair of damaged tissues and the prevention of infections, while certain nutrients, like protein, are particularly beneficial for the development of tissues. Secondly, they shield your children against obesity, which can result in conditions like diabetes that can damage their eyes.
Children’s eyes need the right nutrition while they are still developing for their sense of sight to become as alert and functioning as it should be. As parents, you may help them do this by making certain foods a staple in their diet, particularly those high in nutrients like lutein, zinc, vitamins C and E, and omega-3 fatty acids. Among them are:
- Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, and fruit liquids.
- Meat and seafood, such as pork and oysters.
- Leafy green veggies, including kale and spinach.
- Fatty fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna.
- Protein sources other than meat, like eggs, beans, and nuts.
2. Protect their eyes from the sun.
Sunlight and other UV light sources cause cumulative damage that frequently manifests later in life. Children should always wear eyeglasses, or a hat with a wide brim to protect their eyes from the sun, whether they are playing in the backyard, on the playground, or at the beach.
Protecting your kids from the sun’s harmful rays is also done by making them wear sunglasses, particularly ones that absorb 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. Sunglasses will be of significant help, even if your children wear contact lenses with some degree of sun protection.
3. Regular Eye checkups with the doctor.
Regular visits to an ophthalmologist can help detect eye diseases early, frequently when they are still treatable, as some do not have obvious symptoms. Additionally, examinations guarantee that any issue—like nearsightedness—is handled correctly, quickly, and with the
right medical supplies. It is advised that kids get their first eye checkup between the ages of three and five and that kids who are older than five should get one every year.
4. Reduce screen time to encourage healthy habits
Digital eye strain, which can result from prolonged computer staring, can produce double or blurry vision, causing them to have trouble focusing at a distance in addition to dry eyes and headaches.
To limit your children’s screen time:
- Restrict your kids’ usage of electronics, particularly at night.
- Encourage kids to take breaks from screens every twenty minutes.
- Make sure they’re watching from a safe distance to avoid eye strain and use an anti-glare screen if one is available.
5. Educate your children on eye safety
Encourage your children not to engage in activities that could damage their eyesight, such as looking into intensely bright lights or putting sharp items too close to their eyes, using unclean hands to wipe their eyes, or exchanging personal items like eye drops or cosmetics.
Informing your kids about the value of eye safety and the possible risks to their eyes that come with particular activities will help them take an active role in maintaining the health and safety of their eyes.
6. Get your children to engage in outdoor activities.
It has been shown that children’s eye health is improved when they spend time outside and away from devices. Children’s visual development can benefit from safe exposure to natural light, which may also lower their chance of developing nearsightedness. Similar to how exercising benefits one’s muscles, your children’s senses will be stimulated and helped to develop normally by seeing different colors and experiencing different distances.
Children who play outside are more likely to concentrate on things that are farther away, such as distant birds in the sky or nearby lawn blades. The eye muscles get stronger from this frequent focus change, which also enhances their capacity to quickly and easily adjust vision.
7. Eye Exercises and enough sleep
Give your children’s eyes a quick exercise daily. Give a far-off object fifteen seconds of your attention, then shift your focus to something closer and stare at it for an additional fifteen seconds. Do this cycle four or five times.
Lack of sleep has a way of depriving your children’s eyes of their sparkle. They might have fatigue, red, itchy eyes, and difficulty focusing on objects, such as their favorite toys or books. Their eyes, as well as the body, are renewed by a good night’s sleep. Getting enough sleep promotes healthy eyesight in children and maintains sharp, clear vision.
Conclusion
By following these simple tips, we can help them see the world clearly, and safely. Do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s pediatrician or an eye doctor with questions or additional information to preserve your children’s eye health. The doctor might tell you to schedule routine examinations and warn you about certain symptoms, such as foggy or poor vision.
Your children’s eyes will play a big role in how they grow, so it is important that you help ensure their safety and health. From making them eat the right food to taking them to the doctor on a regular basis, your efforts are an investment into a bright future for your kids.
References
- Alexander, P, Rahi, JS and Hingorani, M. 2009. Provision and cost of children’s and young people’s eye services in the UK: findings from a single primary care trust. The British Journal of Ophthalmology, 93(5): 645–9. DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2008.149203 [PubMed]
- Aldebasi, YH. 2013. A descriptive study on compliance of spectacle-wear in children of primary schools at Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Health Sciences, 7(3): 291–299. DOI: 10.12816/0006057 [PMC free article]
