Why You Should Prioritise Children's Eye Health And Safety

Why Should We Care About Children’s Eyes?

Children are unique, and so is their sight. Safety and eye health are essential components of a fulfilling childhood and cognitive development. In order to reach their full potential, the quality of their vision plays a crucial role during these years.

Children’s eyes continue to develop until they reach the age of eight, so caring for a child’s eyes in the early years can help lay the foundations for good vision that lasts a lifetime. Good vision helps them to learn, play and to communicate with the world around them.

Signs That A Child Could Be Struggling With Eye Defects

It's often difficult to tell if your child is having problems with their eyes. Some eye conditions do not display any signs or symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to take your child for a sight test.

Tell-tale signs that a child has problems with their sight include: 

1. One eye turning inwards or outwards
2. Frequent headaches
3. Rubbing the eyes too often
4. Difficulty concentrating
5. Squinting or head-tilting when trying to focus
6. Excessive blinking or tearing
7. Loss of interest in reading or learning
8. Frequently bumping into objects
9. Struggling to recognise colours and shapes

Some Eye Conditions Common In Children

Anyone can develop sight problems, but it is especially important to look after children’s eyes. The eye is still developing throughout early childhood so if problems are treated early, it can make a lasting difference. Most pre-schoolers do not receive routine eye screening, which is crucial to identify if children suffer from eye disease. Data shows that over 1.6 million school–aged children in England could be living with an undiagnosed vision problem that impacts their educational and social development.

Here are some eye defects that children could possibly grapple with in their formative years:

1. Amblyopia: Sometimes called “Lazy Eyes”, Amblyopia is a developmental disorder that leads to reduced vision. It usually affects only one eye and occurs because the eye and the brain are not working together properly. The affected eye looks normal, but sends weak ‘neuro electrical signals’ to the brain. This causes the brain to favour the other eye. With a prevalence of 2–5%, Amblyopia is the most common vision deficit in children in the UK, according to the National Library of Medicine.
2. Astigmatism: This condition involves blurry vision caused by imperfect curvature of the eye, affecting both near and distance vision. If a child has uncorrected astigmatism, they may have difficulty reading and concentrating at school.
3. Hyperopia: Also referred to as long-sightedness, this condition makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects. Hyperopia can affect one or both eyes. Regular sight tests are vital for early detection.
4. Myopia: This condition, also referred to as short-sightedness, makes it difficult to focus on objects that are far away. Myopia can be difficult to spot in young children as they may not know that their poor vision isn’t normal. Early diagnosis and vision correction can help slow progression of the condition.
5. Strabismus: Also known as Eye Squint, this is a condition where the eyes point in different directions and ‘see’ different images. This confuses the brain and causes blurred or double vision. It is not always possible to tell if the eyes are pointing in different directions by simply looking at someone, so regular eye tests are vital to ensure diagnosis and effective treatment to prevent avoidable sight loss. According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, Strabismus affects three out of every one hundred children in the UK.

Ways To Protect Your Child’s Eye Health

The importance of being vigilant about the eyesight of children cannot be over-emphasised, particularly when current statistics are put into consideration. For context, about 37,000 children in England and Wales are living with vision impairment, according to the Royal Society for Blind Children.

Here are a few ways to guarantee protection for your child’s eye health:

1. Eat well: Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which contain necessary vitamins and minerals, can help protect your child's vision.
2. Limit screen time: Increased screen time can make uncorrected vision problems worse. Limit screen time each day and have your child take frequent breaks to protect their vision. Taking breaks also helps with other near-vision activities like reading, writing, or drawing.
3. Get enough sleep: Our bodies and eyes heal when we sleep. Without enough sleep, it could be harder for your child's eyes to recover from everyday use or irritants in the environment.
4. Spend time outdoors: Many children spend hours each day doing near-vision activities. Going outdoors allows them to look at distant objects. This lets their eyes recover from strain and fatigue. Playing outdoors also helps kids to be physically active and get essential vitamin D.
5. Use protective eyewear and sunglasses: About 90% of eye injuries can be prevented with protective eyewear. If your child is involved in sports or other activities, make sure they wear protective eyewear to avoid injuries. You can also protect your child's eyes from the sun with sunglasses that have 100% ultraviolet (UV) protection. Exposure to UV rays over time can be harmful to the eyes.
6. Regular testing: Attend eye exams regularly so an eye doctor can follow your child's vision through development. If anything changes, you can treat and manage your child's vision quickly.

At Optimax, we stress the importance of comprehensive eye care, and that (obviously) includes children’s eye health. We have several resources on our website where you can learn more about eye protection and maintenance.

If you have any questions regarding eye care at Optimax, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to discuss queries with you over the phone (0800 093 1110) or email (enquiry@optimax.co.uk).