August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. It is estimated that vision problems affect about five million children in elementary school. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to protect your child’s vision. Below is a list of ways that your child’s vision can be protected:
Regular Eye Examinations
Your child’s eyes should be checked regularly. Regular eye examinations are important because the eyes change a lot during infancy and childhood. Most serious eye problems are easy to correct if diagnosed early. It is also important to note that vision problems can make it harder for children to perform in the classroom. Additionally, vision problems may lead to behavioral problems.
Nutritious Meals
A healthy diet can help protect your child’s vision. That is why you want to make sure that your child eats plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables have vitamin E, lutein, and vitamin C, which are necessary for healthy vision.
Fish is another great food for children. They have omega 3 fatty acids in them. Choose fish like salmon, catfish, and tuna. Children should not eat mackerel, swordfish, shark, and tilefish because they have a lot of mercury.
Protect Your Child’s Eyes From The Sun
Many parents make sure that their children put on sunscreen before going outdoors. However, many children do not have the proper eye protection. The ultraviolet rays can be damaging to vision also. That is why you want to make sure your child wears sunglasses with UV-coated lenses when going outdoors.
Give Children Toys That Are Appropriate For Their Ages
Some toys can damage your child’s eyes. That is why you want to make sure that you select toys for your kids that are appropriate for their age. You will also need to select toys that do not have any sharp edges.