7 ways to take care of your child’s eye health

Maintaining your child’s eye health is crucial to their general growth. Simple measures, such as limiting screen time and scheduling routine eye exams, can guarantee that their vision is healthy and sharp. Early treatment and ensuring few habits can help your child see and explore the world clearly by preventing strain, detecting problems early, and supporting lifelong eye health. These simple ways can ensure good eye health for your child:

Ideal reading posture and distance

Proper seating posture and reading distance are paramount in the prevention of a condition called pseudo-myopia. In pseudo-myopia, a child needs to wear unnecessary minus corrective glasses for all distance objects, which can be avoided by proper counselling and maintenance of reading distance.

Right lighting while reading or doing homework

Ensure there’s proper lighting in rooms where the child reads, writes, or does homework. Bad lighting in rooms strains the child’s eyes and causes discomfort. Be vigilant for signs that might indicate vision problems, such as squinting, excessive eye rubbing, difficulty reading or seeing things from a distance, or frequent complaints of headaches. If any of these occur, consult an eye specialist for a thorough examination.

Protective eyewear

According to Dr. Anindya S Chakrabarty, Consultant Surgeon, Eye Care / Ophthalmology, Max Multi Speciality Centre, Noida, “During sports or other activities that pose a risk of injury, ensure your child wears proper protective eyewear, like safety glasses or goggles. Additionally, always provide UV-blocking sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. Encourage the child to use sunglasses outside. Using sunglasses is essential to prevent potential damage to the eyes.”

Limit screen time

Prolonged screen time can lead to digital eye strain, discomfort, and insomnia. Limit your child’s screen time and encourage them to take breaks. A good rule of thumb is the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, have them look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Cut down the amount of time that the child uses electronic devices such as tablets, computers, and smartphones. The 20-20-20 rule applies: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Teach good eye habits

According to Dr. Shibal Bhartiya, Clinical Director – Ophthalmology, Marengo Asia Hospitals Gurugram, “Teach your child to wash their hands regularly and avoid rubbing their eyes to prevent infections. Avoid sharing personal items like towels or pillows to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria or viruses that could lead to eye infections. Teach your child to blink often, take breaks while watching screens, and maintain a distance of screens or books from their eyes at around 25-30 inches to prevent eye strain.”

Regular dilated eye exams

Early detection is key to addressing vision problems. Schedule eye exams for your child at 6 months, 3 years, and before kindergarten, and then periodically as they grow. Regular dilated eye exams can not only detect refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eyes) but can also help in the detection of congenital cataracts and retinal pathologies. Take your child for a regular eye check up from the earliest possible age. This ensures that any problems related to eyes will be detected early, treated appropriately, and hence will prevent future complications.

Healthy diet

Nutrition plays a critical role in eye health. A diet rich in Vitamin A (found in carrots, spinach, and sweet potatoes) and Omega-3 fatty acids (from fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds) supports optimal vision and can help reduce the risk of eye diseases in the future, including macular degeneration. Let your child spend more time outdoors. Natural light is good for the eyes and reduces the chances of getting myopia. Include foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E, and also omega-3 fatty acids. Foods include carrots, spinach, fish, and almonds that improve your eye’s health.
By following these steps, you can help ensure your child’s eye health is well-maintained, fostering clear vision and overall well-being.