With the return of the school year around the corner, and all the frenetic activity that accompanies back-to-school prep, August can sometimes feel like September part one.
August is also Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. A comprehensive eye exam is as important to the learning experience as having the right school supplies. Children aren't always able to tell when something isn't quite right with their eyes—an optometrist can help with the early detection of possible vision problems. These could include not only nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, but also conditions like eyelid drooping, color blindness or issues with eye tracking or coordination.
Vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing, and some problems, if left untreated, could result in permanent vision impairment. To stay vigilant between eye doctor visits, keep an eye out (or preferably two) for certain warning behaviors:
- Frequent eye rubbing or blinking
- Squinting, covering one eye or tilting the head to one side
- Avoiding reading or viewing distant objects
- Complaints of frequent headaches, discomfort or fatigue
- Holding reading materials close to the face
- Eyes turning in or out, wandering or crossing
If these symptoms appear, it's time for another eye exam; the earlier a problem is detected and treated, the likelier the treatment will be successful.
Eye safety doesn't stop at regular exams, either. Safeguard your kids' ocular health at home by keeping chemicals, like cleaning supplies and sprays, out of the reach of children. For younger children, stick to age-appropriate toys without any sharp or protruding parts. When outdoors, encourage the use of hats and sunglasses to reduce potential UV damage; for very little ones who may poke their eyes with sunglasses, a sun shade or umbrella might work better. (Bonus: it also makes for super cute pictures.)
Kids who participate in athletic activities are at risk for eye injury. Talk to your child about basic safety precautions, like wearing the appropriate protective eyewear and learning the proper way of handling projectile toys like airsoft guns or darts. With the advent of e-learning and the increase in screen exposure for children, blue light exposure also presents a concern. To mitigate blue light damage, consider limiting screen time to appropriate amounts, with regular breaks every so often. For when kids do need to use screens, we recommend the use of blue light protective eyewear.
Our BluLite products are designed to protect the eyes by filtering out harmful blue light wavelengths—and they're pretty stylish, too! Our newest releases, available with plano or power lenses, just might be just the ticket to staying chic, safe and successful this school year.
