It’s August! Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month takes place in August. That’s when children in Atlanta head back into the classroom or are in the thick of getting ready to do so. It’s a good time to think about their eyes, which are important learning tools. This is a particularly busy time for Optometrists as parents rush to make appointments for annual eye exams for the family. The eye doctors Vision Source Insight Eyecare strongly recommend an annual eye exam to ensure good eye health as a prerequisite to strong learning.

Eyesight and Learning: Annual Eye Exams

During the first three years of school, children are learning to read. After that, they’re reading to learn. In other words: children are always using their eyes to learn. Since learning is so very visual, the smart thing to do is to plan for annual eye examinations for eye health and academic success.

Many times, children are assumed to have learning disabilities when what they really have are vision problems. These cases can almost always be treated with prescription eyewear or contact lenses and the difference that it makes to learning and academic performance can be amazing. Over the years Dr Rachael Sweeney from Vision Source Insight Eyecare has seen many examples of eye exams revealing nearsightedness in kids. With a new pair of glasses, the student has realized new heights in their learning and success.

Eyesight Health: Some Things for Parents to Observe

If you’re bringing your child for yearly eye exams, you’re doing right by your child. But it’s also important to note that eye problems can develop between yearly appointments. For that reason, it’s important to be on the lookout for behaviors and signs that indicate a child may be experiencing some sort of vision problem. If a parent detects any of the following signs and behaviors, they are encouraged to schedule an appointment for an eye exam. (Vision Source Insight Eyecare. (404) 250-1680)

Appearance of Kid’s Eyes:

• Eyes not lining up properly—one eye turns in or out.
• Eyelids are red, crusty, or swollen.
• Eyes are red or watery.

Kids Behavior to Observe:

• Rubbing eyes all the time
• Covers or closes an eye.
• Tilts head to side or pushes head forward, especially when watching television.
• Holds book too close or too far away.
• Blinking often
• Becomes cranky when forced to do reading or other close work.
• Squints or frowns
• Disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects.
• Eyes tend to wander.

What to listen for as an indicator of Eye issues?

• “My eyes itch”
• “My eyes are burning.”
• “My eyes are on fire.”
• “My eyes feel scratchy like something’s in them.”
• “I can’t see that very well.”
• “My head hurts”
• “I feel dizzy.”
• “I feel sick in my stomach, nauseated.”
• “Everything’s all blurry.”
• “I’m seeing two of everything.”

Two Good Ideas for Eye Health in Children:

20-20-20 Rule
Another eye problem in the making is staring at one thing for hours, namely, the computer. The eyes were not made for such lengthy focus on a single object. Solve this problem by taping a note to your screen reminding you to blink and look away from the computer toward something in the distance. Keep in mind the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes you’re on the computer, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a nice break and helps them rest up.

Prolonged Contact Lens Use & Eyeglasses
Every contact lens wearer is warned not to leave the lenses in overnight. What most teens fail to realize is that studying for 18 or more hours straight while wearing contacts is about the same as sleeping in them. The older hydrogen lenses in particular, are a danger when worn for long periods since they don’t let oxygen through to the eye, when air is crucial to eye health. The cornea can become inflamed and this can lead to blurry vision and eye infections.

The solution? Trade out to regular eyeglasses every few hours during lengthy study periods. Take a break and give your eyes a break.

Kids Eye Exams and Glasses at Vision Source Insight Eyecare

Located near Chastain Park and Sandy Springs, Vision Source Insight Eyecare is a family friendly optometry practice with a great selection of cool frames and affordable prices. Drs Sweeney, Chen and Nim encourage you to add an Eye Exam to your Back-to-School list. Call for an appointment today. (404) 250-1680