Kids are heading back to school, and while you are probably feeling a little relieved to have them out of your hair, you may also be nervous about how they are going to make it through the year in one piece.
With August being Children’s Eye and Safety month, we thought it would be a good opportunity to share some children’s eye safety tips that you can discuss with your children to ensure happy and healthy eyes.
It may be tempting for your child to stick their finger or an object in their eye just for fun, but this is one part of our body which must be left alone. If your child has itchy eyes, it’s a good sign something is wrong and contact with fingers will only cause further problems like infections or scratches. Instead, instruct them to gently wash their face and eyes for relief. Monitor whether the issue improves and take them to an eye care professional if necessary!
Flicking something into a friend’s face may seem funny at the time when you’re a kid, but a rubber band straight to the eyeball is no laughing matter. When it comes to playtime for the kids, make sure that they are supervised for their general safety.
If your child is like a fish out of water, then it would be a great idea to ask them to get in the habit of putting on goggles before jumping in the ocean. Salt water is harsh on eyes, and it’s possible that debris and bacteria can get inside while splashing around.
Also encourage the use of sunglasses while out in the sun – find some cool shades your child loves to wear so you don’t have any arguments!
Kids love to spend time on phones, laptops, and tablets, but did you know that staring at them for extended periods of time can actually cause issues for their eyes? Try to limit the amount of time your children spend on their electronics and send them outside to play instead.
Overall health is key to your child having a successful school year, and a regular eye exam should be part of your annual medical checkups. If your child is not able to see the board properly in class or is having difficulties with catching a ball, then it’s time to book an appointment with your optometrist to give them the best chance of doing well.
When your child’s eyes are showing any signs of infection or irritation, get straight to an eye doctor to get things checked out. An optometrist can also pick up other possible problems such as color blindness, crossed eyes, lazy eyes, or even other diseases like glaucoma, so it’s best to make sure you have an annual appointment to keep your child in the best shape possible!
Give us a call at (808) 278-8383 or book an appointment online, by clicking the button below!
We look forward to SEEing you soon!
