August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

If we could see the world through the eyes of a child, we would see the magic in everything

Chee Vai Tang

Those little eyes! Don’t they pull at your heart strings when you look into a child’s eyes? But as cute as they are, our children’s eyes must also be healthy. As August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and time for back-to-school, it’s a great time to think about how best to keep their eyes healthy.

According to Prevent Blindness, healthy vision contributes to children’s school readiness, ability to learn, and overall healthy development and ability to reach motor developmental milestones; and vision screening and eye care are essential components of good vision care.¹

Did you know that 78% of U.S. states require school-aged children to get vision screening²?  If your child has trouble with any of these screenings, visit an eye doctor and follow any recommended treatments like glasses prescriptions, eye drops, or even surgery. Also, we’ve all had more screen time lately. Excessive time on a digital device, especially when held close to the child’s face, can make undiagnosed vision problems worse, or create new symptoms.³

What about eye injuries? What can you do at home to protect your child? It’s important to know how injuries in the home can happen.

Some of the most common types of eye injuries can result from the following:

• Misuse of toys – read all warnings and instructions on toys
• Falls – from beds, against furniture, on stairs, and when playing with toys
• Household products – contact with harmful products like detergents, paints, and glues

So, as the school days approach, make sure those cute little eyes are at their best with vision checks and trips to the eye doctor if needed.

1. https://preventblindness.org/childrens-eye-health-and-safety-month-resources/
2. https://preventblindness.org/vision-screening-requirements-by-state/
3. https://preventblindness.org/childrens-screen-time-tips/

The information offered here is not medical advice and is not intended to replace guidance offered by your medical professionals.