With school starting again after an extended break, you’ll no doubt want your child to get the most out of every single day. As much of their learning is visual, this means ensuring their eyes are in good health and their vision is clear at school. With that in mind, here’s our expert advice on eye care for children.
Book an eye exam
Children should typically have their eyes examined by an optometrist annually and whenever they experience any vision problems. As we’re now back open for routine child eye care, you can book your child’s eye test in so they get the best start to the school year.
Remember, a child’s eye test is about more than checking if they need vision correction, it also picks up conditions such as lazy eyes or squints, which can be resolved with prompt treatment.
If you’ve noticed your child is rubbing their eyes more, squinting to see things clearly or complaining of headaches, please make sure you book their eye test as soon as possible so we can determine whether they have any vision problems that need immediate attention.
Keep screen time down
Today children live in a digital world, but spending too much time watching a screen can result in concentration problems and eye strain. So, try to keep screen time to a minimum at home and make sure to remind your child takes a screen break every 20 minutes whether they’re at home or school.
Good hand hygiene
We’ve all been more vigilant with hand washing in recent months, but it won’t hurt to drive this point home again with your child.
Certain eye infections such as conjunctivitis are very contagious and as children have a habit of rubbing their eyes, they are more at risk of catching them. Regular and thorough hand washing will help stop the spread of infection.
Eat healthily
Healthy meals make for healthy eyes. Antioxidants, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, are vital to protect the health of your child’s eyes. So make sure they eat a balanced diet with foods rich in antioxidants, such as leafy greens, spinach, broccoli, peas, lettuce, carrots, citrus fruits, oily fish and eggs.
Have a spare pair
If your child already wears glasses, make sure they have a spare pair so if one gets broken, they won’t have to do without while you get them repaired or replaced.
Visit us in practice
Get the school year off to a great start and book your child in for their annual eye exam at Murray Opticians, Drumchapel, Glasgow.