The Scoop on Kids’ Eye Health
How can I do to protect my child’s eyesight?
Be proactive about your child’s eye health. Make sure your child is screened annually by your pediatrician and/or at school. Look out for warning signs of eye issues, such as holding books and objects close to the eyes and squinting. Try to feed your child a nutritious, vitamin-rich diet. Limit screen time, and enforce frequent breaks while he or she is watching a screen.
When does my child need his/her first eye exam?
Before leaving the hospital, babies should have their eyes screened for infections, defects, glaucoma, and cataracts.
How often should my child’s eyes be checked?
Your children’s eyes should be checked by your pediatrician at each pediatric well visit. Specific ages to screen for vision development, eye alignment, and eye abnormalities are:
- Newborn
- 6 months
- Yearly starting at 1
If your child receives an abnormal eye screening test result, you will be referred to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam.
What should I expect at my child’s eye exam?
Pediatric eye exams vary based on the age of the child. Your optometrist will execute a battery of tests to detect vision abnormalities and developmental issues. At Monocle Premier Eye Care, we’re committed to making the visit as comfortable and easy as possible for you and your child.
My young child just started wearing glasses. At what age can we move to contacts?
We have patients starting to wear contacts as early as age 8. A child-friendly disposable contacts called Mi Sight has been approved by the FDA to be used to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children aged 8-12 at the initiation of treatment.
What are the effects of screen-time on my child’s eyes?
We’re also seeing a link between the rise of screen time and the prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness. It’s important that parents monitor screen time and enforce frequent breaks. The American Optometric Association suggests the 20-20-20 rule: take a 20-second break every 20 minutes by looking at something for 20 seconds.
What should I do in an eye-related emergency?
If you or your child is experiencing swelling, pain, or redness in or around your eye(s), seek medical attention immediately. Don’t try to treat the issue without medical guidance. Refrain from rubbing or applying pressure to the eye, and do not attempt to remove a foreign object with tweezers or other tools.
What are blue light glasses? Should my child be wearing blue light glasses?
Blue light glasses block active blue light from reaching the eyes. Because blue light promotes wakefulness, the more we take in leading up to bedtime, the harder it may be to fall asleep and wake up the next morning. Though blue light glasses may mitigate the sleep-related effects of screens, they don’t have much impact on other effects, such as eye strain and dry eyes.
Can children’s eyesight improve over time?
Vision can be enhanced and modestly improved through a healthy diet of omega 3s, vitamin A, and antioxidants, regular exercise, and limited exposure to the sun and screens. Most major eye issues can be prevented--which is why regular eye screenings are so important.
Make your whole family’s vision and eye health a priority with annual eye exams. Call our office to book an appointment 832.735.7332 or contact us with any questions.