Make Protecting Kids' Eye Health a Priority

(Family Features) Annual checkups are an important step in protecting your child’s eye health and vision, but families tend to see the eye doctor less regularly than their primary care doctor, pediatrician or dentist.

This year, ZEISS Vision Care commissioned a study that found only 47% of parents reported taking their children to an optometrist annually, but 78% saw their primary care doctor each year and 71% made a trip to the dentist. The study also revealed 82% of parents with kids ages 18 and younger are concerned about their children experiencing digital eyestrain from using electronics.

Parents in the survey reported a variety of behaviors to protect their children’s eyes, including screen time breaks and using glasses, including those with blue light and ultraviolet (UV) ray blocking features.

Learn how you can protect your child’s eye health with these tips from the experts at ZEISS.

Don’t wait for your child to complain about fuzzy vision. Kids’ eye muscles are adaptable, making it possible for them to have functional vision even when they need a high degree of refractive correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness. Often, kids don’t realize better vision is even possible until they have a thorough exam.

Watch for signs of poor vision. Although your child may not directly complain about having trouble seeing, you may notice symptoms that don’t necessarily equate to vision. Headaches and burning causing itching and rubbing the eyes are symptoms that may be attributed to allergies or other causes. Dry eyes and tearing are also symptoms of vision strain. You might find your child squinting or holding objects close or farther away. Sometimes a lack of interest in reading or difficulty concentrating are also related to vision.

Look for kid-friendly corrective eyewear. The shape of the face, distance between the eyes and other proportions gradually change as children develop, which influences the position of eyeglass lenses. In addition, the pupil diameter increases in children and young people while it shrinks again in adults. This means lenses designed for adults aren’t necessarily well-suited for children. Options like ZEISS Single Vision SmartLife Young lenses are specially adapted to the anatomy and lifestyle of growing children. Individual, continuously changing parameters, such as the distance between the eyes, are integrated into the lens design. As a result, they provide up to 60% wider fields of clear view along with full, sunglass-level UV protection in thin, lightweight lenses that can be customized with blue light protection and scratch-resistant coatings that are aesthetically pleasing.

Protect eyes from potential risks. Require kids to wear protective eyewear when participating in activities, like certain sports, that could harm their eyes. Sunglasses make it easier to see in bright sunlight, but they also protect the eyes from harmful UV rays.

Schedule annual exams. Checking in with your child’s eye doctor each year is essential for protecting eye health and vision. If your child wears glasses, verifying his or her prescription is still appropriate is important. If not, it’s still a good idea to monitor for changes.

“As a mom and eye care professional, I understand firsthand the importance of taking care of your children’s eye health now so they maintain healthy vision later in life,” said Dr. Jennifer Wademan, OD. “Children have different eye care needs than adults and not only require annual comprehensive vision exams but also eye care products and solutions like the ZEISS SmartLife Young lenses designed specifically to address their anatomy and age-specific needs.”    

Find more resources to protect your child’s eye health and vision at zeiss.com/smartlifeyoung.