1. Teach The 20-20-20 Rule

To prevent eye strain caused by excessive screen time, remind children about the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, encourage them to look away from their screens and focus on something at least 20 feet away for a duration of 20 seconds. Taking screen breaks can help your child avoid digital eye strain. If you would like to learn more about avoiding digital eyestrain in children, read our blog here.

2. Blink Frequently

Dry eyes can be a common issue when staring at screens for extended periods. Remind kids to blink frequently throughout the school day. This simple action helps keep their eyes moist and reduces discomfort.

3. Wear Protective Eyewear

Whether your child is playing sports, working on science experiments, or using a digital device, make sure they wear appropriate protective eyewear to prevent eye problems or injuries. Electronic devices emit blue light that can potentially harm the eyes over time. Encourage your child to use blue light filters or glasses while using these devices. These filters help reduce the amount of blue light reaching their eyes, minimizing potential damage.

4. Regular Recess And Physical Activity Breaks

Advocate for regular recess periods to give children’s eyes a break from looking at a screen or a board for a long time. Encourage physical activity breaks throughout the day to reduce eye strain. Active play helps alleviate eye fatigue and also promotes overall eye health.

5. Proper Hand Hygiene To Prevent Eye Infections

Teach children the importance of hand hygiene, especially before touching their eyes. Explain how proper handwashing can help prevent the spread of infections that affect the eyes. Promote healthy habits like avoiding rubbing or touching the eyes with dirty hands. If your child wears contact lenses or eyeglasses, it’s important that they understand to wash their hands thoroughly before handling these eye care products.

6. Nutritious Snacks For Healthy Vision

Make sure to pack nutritious snacks in your child’s lunchbox that will support healthy vision. Highlight foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc, as these are beneficial for eye health. Examples of these foods include carrots, almonds, leafy greens, citrus fruits, nuts, and fish. If you are looking for more delicious food options that you can offer your child, click our blog here.

7. Promote Regular Eye Exams

Before the school year starts, it’s essential to schedule an eye exam for your child. Regular eye exams can detect any underlying vision problems early on and can ensure that they have optimal vision for learning. Schedule an appointment with an eye care professional to ensure their vision is in check for the upcoming school year!

By implementing these back-to-school eye care tips for children in school, we can ensure their visual well-being. Advocating for regular recess breaks, teaching proper hand hygiene practices, and promoting nutritious snacks all contribute to maintaining healthy eyesight among young students. Let’s prioritize our children’s eye care to set them up for success both inside and outside the classroom.

If you haven’t set up an eye exam for your child yet, call Dr. D’Orio Eyecare today at 416.656.2020 (Toronto location) or 416.661.5555 (North York location), or visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ to book an appointment.

The post Back-To-School Eye Care Tips For Children appeared first on Best Optometrist in Toronto.

Similar to adults, dry eyes can be uncomfortable and painful for children, and can greatly impact their life quality and performance in daily activities. Often, dry eyes can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, and so it is important to seek appropriate medical advice. For more information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment for dry eyes in children, continue reading.

Dry Eye Causes

There are many different causes for dry eye, which can include environmental factors such as dry weather, and exposure to smoke or other pollutants. Allergies could also be irritating the eyes, causing tear film instability and inflammation on the ocular surface. This could lead to damage and neurosensory abnormalities, causing increased sensitivity in the eyes. Another contributing factor could be poor diet, as Vitamin A deficiency has been shown to cause changes in the cells lining the ocular surface, preventing the eyes from properly producing tears.

However, it is increasingly likely that a child’s eyes are dry due to prolonged screen exposure. Children are using screens more frequently: using the computer or a tablet for their schoolwork, scrolling through social media on their phone, playing video games or watching television in their free time, even reading on an electronic device rather than from a book! The longer a child uses a smart phone, the lower their blink rate will be, which can increase the ocular surface’s exposure to air. This can cause instability of the tear layer and thus, dry eye. Excess screen time can also contribute to other eye conditions such as eye fatigue and should be limited when possible.

Symptoms

It can be difficult to diagnose eye conditions in children as they may not have the vocabulary to properly describe what they are feeling. Children may describe their dry eyes as feeling hot, or as if they have sand or dirt in their eyes. Dry eyes could also cause itchy, stinging, or burning eyes, eye redness, or excessive tearing. Children with dry eyes may frequently rub their eyes to alleviate discomfort. Dry eyes could also cause blurry vision, though it will not often cause lasting effects when it comes to vision clarity. If you notice that your child is suffering from any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your optometrist.

Dry eyes could also be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition. If you notice that your child is suffering from the symptoms of dry eye, it is important to consult with an optometrist for a proper examination and diagnosis.

Remedies & Treatments

In order to properly treat dry eyes, it is important to first understand the cause. However, there are some remedies that may help alleviate your child’s discomfort as they await their examination.

Outdoor activities have been shown to be beneficial in preventing dry eyes in children. If possible, have your child participate in outdoor play, sports, or other activities. Avoid exposure to smoke or other eye irritants and use a humidifier in the child’s room or near their workspace during school hours. Placing a warm compress on the child’s eyes for 5 minutes per day can also help to stimulate their tear production.

It is also important to have children take frequent breaks while reading, watching TV, or using the computer or other electronic devices, in order to allow the eyes to rest. In some cases, you may need to use artificial tears while the child is undertaking these activities to keep the eyes properly lubricated.

If you notice that symptoms persist, or worsen, you may need to take more serious steps to alleviate your child’s dry eyes. Visit your optometrist for a diagnosis and proper treatment. They will be able to recommend prescription medications, or other treatment options such as surgery, that will help with more severe cases of dry eyes.

If your child is suffering from occasional dry eyes, it may not be an issue that affects their life. However, dry eyes can be a serious detriment to a child’s comfort and quality of life, and as it can indicate an underlying medical condition, it is important to always consult an optometrist to ensure your child is receiving proper treatment and care. Be aware of your child’s behaviour so that you can detect symptoms of dry eyes and seek treatment when necessary.

If you believe that your child may be suffering from dry eyes, contact the optometry team at Dr D’Orio Eyecare. Our dry eye specialists will be able to examine, diagnose, and treat your child’s dry eyes, as well as identify any other eye conditions. To book an appointment at Dr D’Orio Eyecare, visit https://drdorioeyecare.com/book-appointment/ or call us at 416 656 2020 for our Toronto location, or 416 661 5555 for our North York location.

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