August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, there are many things you need to know about children’s eye health.
The American Optometric Association recommends that infants receive their first comprehensive physical eye exam at six months, with follow-ups at three years and five or six years. After the age of six, children should receive an eye exam every two years, unless they have eyeglasses, which may require annual checkups. A great time to schedule eye exams is when children are going back to school. Don’t rely on school exams to be comprehensive, as these are not designed to catch eye diseases.
Nearly 12 million children in the U.S. have some visual impairment, which may include limited peripheral vision, visual acuity, photophobia, double vision, perception difficulties or optical distortion.
If children experience one of these symptoms, they may have a visual impairment.
- Squinting, turning or tilting their heads while watching television
- Disinterest in reading or looking at distant objects
- Frequent blinking and eye rubbing
- Double vision
- Covering one eye to try to focus
- Has an eye that turns in or out
- A family history of vision-related issues
Older children are usually able to communicate eye-related issues better, but it’s still important for parents to observe the following, as they may be related to vision changes and/or problems.
- Lack of comprehension
- Poor performance in school
- Hyperactive and easily distracted
- Experiencing discomfort or eye fatigue
- Frequently losing track when reading
- A difficulty with reading comprehension
Additionally, while most people associate cataracts with aging, children can also be born with cataracts or even develop them just after birth. While it is not common in the U.S., it occurs more frequently in third-world countries.
BluTech supports Children’s Eye Health and Safety month and understands the importance of preserving our children’s futures by investing in their eyesight. Harmful blue light rays can contribute to vision fatigue and sleep disorders. Harmful blue light can contribute to vision fatigue and sleep disorders.
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