August Is Here: Time to Check Your Children’s Eyes
You may not be aware of it, but August has been designated by Prevent Blindness and the National Optometric Association as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month. If you’ve got kids, now’s the time to pay an extra dose of attention to the health and safety of your little ones’ eyesight. This may have you wondering a little bit about exactly what to do next, though.
In this post, we’ll answer what Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month actually means, and talk about how you can do your part to protect the eye health of your children all month long.
Why Is August Children’s Eye Care Month?
Naturally, as a parent, you are concerned about your children’s eye health all the time. However, August is a time where making sure your children can see properly is especially important, as the school year is about to start, and healthy vision is critical to a child’s success in school.
Vision problems like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes) and myopia/hyperopia (nearsightedness/farsightedness) can make it difficult for children to read, which can cause them to struggle academically. These conditions may even be mistaken for a learning disability, in some instances.
The purpose of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month is to allow Prevent Blindness and the National Optometric Association to help educate parents and caregivers on the best ways to ensure that students have healthy eyesight. The organizations want to ensure that vision problems are not an obstacle to kids enjoying a successful school year.
What Can I Do for Children’s Eye Care Month?
If you have a very young child, start by downloading The Guide to Vision Health for Your Newborn, Infant or Toddler. This brochure provides critical information about how your child’s sight will develop over time, and what milestones and problem warning signs to look for.
If you have an older child, August is a great opportunity for you to take them in for their regular eye exam. Children’s eyes are constantly developing, and you should have their eyes checked regularly to make sure they do not need any corrections for vision, and that they are practicing good eye care.
Additionally, there are a variety of programs that Prevent Blindness offers in August to help children, teachers, and parents learn about eye health and safety.
Talk to Your Kids About Their Eye Health This Month
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month also provides a great opportunity for you talk to your children about eye health and safety issues they may encounter on a daily basis. This includes:
- Sports – You should instruct your children that they should always wear goggles to protect their eyes when playing a sport in which a ball or another player could come into contact with their eyes. Getting hit directly in the eye with a speeding ball or a thrown elbow can do permanent eye damage.
- Laboratory Work– If your child has a science lab in school, they may work with open flames or potentially hazardous chemicals. While the school will have safety procedures in place, it is important to emphasize to your children that they are responsible for securing their own eye health by wearing protective goggles at all times during science experiments.
- General Outdoor Activities– Children should be instructed to be careful when out playing in the very bright sun, being sure not to look directly into the sun, and wearing a cap or sunglasses to block sunlight when possible.
If you live in the Portland area, Beaumont Vision offers comprehensive eye care for children and adults alike, and we’d be delighted to have your child in for a full eye examination in August. Contact us now to make an appointment for better eye care for your child.