Every parent strives to provide the best possible care for their children. However, amidst all the responsibilities, children’s eye health often gets ignored, resulting in vision complexities at later stages.
Eye health plays a crucial role in a child’s development and well-being. As a parent, you have the power to ensure that your child’s eye health is taken care of. From education to personal growth, a clear vision increases flexibility in learning and performing. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, eye checkups for children are often unintentionally ignored, but with your attention and care, this can change.
To raise awareness among parents and guardians, “Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month” is celebrated in August. Children are highly vulnerable to eye-related issues. So, early detection is crucial for clearer vision among children as they grow up.
We at Salisbury Optometrist can provide you with the best eye examination tests and clinical consultation for eye health. Continue reading this blog to gather a comprehensive idea about the importance of “Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month” in August.
Brief Idea of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
In the digital era, high screen time has become a common aspect of individuals’ daily lifestyles. Children, especially, are highly engaged in online classes and video games.
August is a symbolic month for raising awareness about eye health among the younger population. As of August 2023, about 1 in every 6 Australian children between 10 and 14 years old wear glasses and contact lenses to correct their sight.
Sometimes, a lack of adequate awareness among Australian parents can increase complexities in vision. That is when mass promotion is needed to support a quick eye test appointment to check children’s eye conditions.
Check out how initial eye examinations can be detected by optometrists through different vision screening tests.
Common Eye Complexities that Occur Among Children
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Amblyopia, or Lazy Eye, is a commonly diagnosed problem among children. This condition occurs from relying on vision from only one eye more than the other. High reliance on one eye prevents the child from gaining complete vision in both eyes alongside worse vision in one eye.
Drooping Eyelids
Weak muscles around the eye often cause drooping eyelids. If these muscles struggle to keep their eyes open, they might exert excessive external pressure.
Drooping eyelids can cause amblyopia upon maturity in some cases. Eye examinations at an initial stage will identify drooping eyelid conditions in children.
Refractive Errors
Nearsightedness and farsightedness are both common examples of refractive errors. If your child is squinting or holding objects closer to what they should be, these are common signs of refractive errors.
With the right glasses, you can quickly correct your children’s near or far-sightedness. Correction at the initial stages can prevent the maturity of any eye complexity.
Pink Eye
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is very common during seasonal changes in Australia. Preventive measures for children are complex, as younger children might tend to rub or touch infected eyes with unclean hands.
A quick eye test appointment will help you to get a comprehensive idea about how to cure pink eyes in children. Expert guidance can improve and maintain the eye health of children and prevent future complexities.
Benefits of Early Eye Problem Detection in Children
Prevent Long-Term Complications
Early intervention in eye health is necessary to avoid complex surgeries and degrade eye health. An initial eye checkup allows more effective treatment of conditions like amblyopia alongside refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia.
For instance, early treatment of amblyopia with parches can significantly improve vision and reduce the need for surgery in life.
Improve Academic Performance
Clear vision is essential for learning, as children at initial stages learn extensively through vision-implemented guidance. Quick eye examinations can help you as a parent facilitate early detection of myopia and hyperopia among children.
Early eye examinations can detect symptoms of vision blurriness or difficulties among children and help them with the visual learning process from an early age.
Support Emotional Development
Children with untreated vision problems might struggle with social interactions and become discouraged about their abilities. At times, visionary issues in children are often misinterpreted as learning or behavioural difficulties. Here’s when eye checkups can help.
Early detection of vision problems can prevent blurriness, eye strains and the risk of permanent damage among children.
In Conclusion
Your child may not understand the severity of the optical issues. However, with age and physical maturity, their conditions might worsen at a quick pace. It’s upto you now to schedule appointments for a quick eye checkup.
At Sailysbury Optometrist, we can provide you with the best optical checkup facilities for both children and adults. Take proactive steps with early detection of eye problems in children.
Prevention of eye problems is the best way to ensure a clear and strong vision.