Children are often told to eat their carrots so they can see in the dark but this is only an old wives tale, green vegetables are more important for their sight development.
It is important to teach children about looking after their sight, as it is the one sense we take for granted. Good eye sight is crucial for a child’s development and is important so that they can learn at school and interact with other people.
It is common for parents to take their children to the dentist for regular check-ups, yet many do not take their children to visit the optician for an eye test. Eye tests are important, not only to check vision, but to pick up the early signs of eye disease.
It is never too soon to take the child for an eye examination, as optometrists can examine children’s eyes even if they are unable to read letters.
- Children should have their first eye examination at least by the time they are three years old, especially if there is a family history of wearing glasses.
- Eye examinations should be done at least once every two years, and more often, if there is an existing eye condition.
- Children of any age who are underachieving at school should have an eye examination. Poor vision is very likely to cause problems with reading and writing.
- If the child has a colour vision problem or if there is a family history of colour vision problems then an eye examination is a good idea. There is no cure for colour vision deficiency but at least teachers can be made aware of this problem and avoid using certain colours in their teaching.
Parents should be aware of any behaviour that indicates potential problems, such as eye redness, frequent rubbing of the eyes, head turns and other unusual postures, or complaints of blurriness or eye fatigue.
There are several factors that need to be taken into consideration ensuring good eye health in children:
Diet
There is now greater recognition of the role nutrition plays in eye health. Some fruit and vegetables contain antioxidants called lutein and zeaxanthin which could help protect against eye health problems. Children should eat plenty of broccoli, oranges, peas, kiwi fruits, mangoes, sweetcorn, grapes and spinach to help keep their eyes healthy.
Lighting
A light source should be positioned behind the child while reading. Avoid direct glare by using shielded light. Reading material should ideally be placed 30 – 40 cm away.
Visual display monitors
Many paediatric ophthalmologists believe that heavy computer use among children puts them at risk for early myopia (short sightedness). The average child now spends one to three hours per day on the computer doing homework, talking online with friends and playing games. Several recent studies have shown that computers can have a negative impact on a child’s vision. They have found that 25% to 30% of computer-using children need corrective eyewear to work comfortably and safely at the computer at home or in school.
TVs and computer screens can cause headaches, eyestrain, burning, watering, blurring of vision, double vision and nausea. Preferred viewing distance for watching TV is 4 meters or more.
The recommended distance between the computer monitor and the child’s eye is 45-70 cm. By viewing the computer screen closer than 45 cm inches, children risk straining their eyes. They should not use a computer for more than 40 minutes continuously as it can lead to tired, red or sore eyes.
Swimming
Water-tight swimming goggles prevents irritation due to chlorine and reduces the chances of infection.
UV light
Always make sure the child wears UV filtering sunglasses in the sun to protect their eyes from sun damage. Research has shown that over-exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and ocular melanoma (eye cancer).
On average, people receive 50% of their lifetime sun exposure before they are 18 years old.
Sports
When the child is playing sports such as badminton or squash, they should wear protective goggles to minimise the risk of a dangerous eye injury.
Infant eye care
Many new parents worry that they are not providing adequate hygiene for their infants, especially around the more delicate areas such as the eyes.
A new born baby will need minimal care for his/her eyes during the first few months and a simple cleanse with clean warm water will usually be sufficient to maintain healthy eyes. Using a clean cotton cloth or cotton pad dipped in warm water, use a single gentle swipe moving from the inner edge of the eye to the outer edge. Repeat with a dry material and this should be enough. It is often more beneficial to use a cotton piece of fabric rather than a cotton wool ball as these can leave fibres on the eyelashes resulting in irritation to the baby.
Do not be tempted to keep wiping the eyes, nor is it advised to add anything to the water such as lotions or shampoos; newborn babies do not get sufficiently dirty to need these additions.
Some common infant eye conditions that may occur are:
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a very common complaint in the young with newborns being no exception. This infection can be transmitted to the infant during birth from bacteria in the birth canal. It can also be transmitted very easily from others, including the parents and will cause the eyes top become red, itchy, inflamed and sticky.
Most eye infections in new born babies can be prevented or lessened in likelihood if strict hand hygiene of all those who come into contact with the baby are adhered to.
Strabismus
This term means to have misaligned eyes which are very common in infants as their eye muscles and focal movements are undeveloped. One eye may turn inwards or have a tendency to turn outwards, especially when they are trying to focus on objects near to them. This problem is most often corrected naturally by the age of around four months.
Blocked tear ducts
This can be seen more often in new babies as one of the delicate ducts around the eye may not have formed properly by birth. This problem will usually rectify itself a few weeks after birth and can be treated easily at home by bathing with warm water. Babies suffering from this problem may have eyes that at first appear watery followed by a sticky discharge that can irritate the eye area.
Conclusion
The best way to maintain the child’s eyes and protect them from damage is to adhere to good hand hygiene practices on a daily basis and educate other children in the home to do the same.
Babies have very healthy eyes on the whole and do not often suffer from many eye complaints. They enjoy visual stimulation and as they grow it will be beneficial to excite their visual sense using colours and shapes.
When it comes to children, vision problems can be difficult to recognise because kids have no way of knowing yet what is normal. For the child, low vision might seem perfectly acceptable because she has never had anything to compare her experience with. Regular eye exams can help protect children and detect vision problems early.
L Crause (M.Pharm)
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