As part of Children’s Eye Safety Month, in addition to immunizations, it is highly recommended your child receive an eye examination before going back to school. The inability to see clearly affects not only academic performance but also athletics and self-esteem. Start the new school year out right by making sure that your student is seeing clearly!
Common signs of vision troubles in children include: frequently rubbing eyes, squinting, tilting or turning head to look at objects, wandering eyes, or squeezing eyes. If you’re child displays any of these symptoms, please schedule an appointment to have their eyes checked.
Protect Your Children’s Eyes from Too Much Blue Light
Research is suggesting that hours in front of digital screens each day may be putting children’s eye safety at risk. (ex: damage to their retinas later in life.)
Computer displays/screens of smart phones and other digital devices emit significant amounts of high-energy visible blue light. This can have long-term damaging effects on retinal tissue.
Though it’s still unclear how much blue light is too much, it’s wise to take preventive measures. Limit your child’s exposure to blue light from these devices.
It’s wise to have kids wear eyeglasses with photochromic lenses and/or anti-reflective coating designed to filter blue light. Also, attempting to place limits on the amount of time your child spends in front of a digital screen daily.
If your child doesn’t need corrective lenses, your eye doctor can prescribe light-filtering computer glasses that can protect his or her eyes from blue light and visual fatigue. Consult your eye care professional for more details.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), parents should consider these factors affecting children and computer use:
Children may not be aware of how much time they are spending at a computer. They may perform a task on the computer for hours with few breaks. This prolonged activity can cause eye focusing and eye strain problems.
Children are very adaptable. They assume that what they see and how they see is normal — even if their vision is problematic. It’s important for parents to monitor the time a child spends working at a computer. Making sure they have regular eye exams as directed by their optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Children are smaller than adults. Since computer workstations often are arranged for adult use, this can change the viewing angle for young children. Computer users should view the screen slightly downward, at a 15-degree angle.
Your Children’s Eye Safety and Health is Important!
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Provided by BENEFITS STORE INSURANCE SERVICES, Inc.