Top Tips for Keeping Kids’ Eyes Healthy

Every parent wants to ensure their children are as healthy as they can be. Health is vital for children to have the best childhood they can have. Eye health is one area that incredibly impacts the quality of your child’s life. A child with healthy eyes has an easier time enjoying their everyday activities like playing with others and learning in school.

 

Here are some top tips to ensure that your child’s eye health is in tiptop shape.

Healthy Diet

A healthy diet is the best start if you want your child to grow up with healthy eyes. When a child is growing, their eyes need proper nutrition to grow well. An eye-friendly diet will ensure that your child’s eyesight is sharp and functions correctly. An eye-friendly diet will usually have the necessary foods for eye development always on the plate.

 

These foods need vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and lutein. The foods that contain significant amounts of these nutrients are:

 

• Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel

• Leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach

• Protein from non-meat sources like eggs, nuts, and beans

• Meat and seafood like pork and oysters

• Citrus and fruit juices like lemons and oranges

Rest or Sleep

One of the most important ways to protect your children’s eyes is to ensure they get proper sleep. It is vital in eye health, even for adults, because it helps vision to stay crisp.

Time Outdoors

It would be best to encourage your children to play outdoors rather than stay inside with their video games. According to research, problems like myopia can be avoided or even managed by encouraging kids to play outside.

Playing outside engages the visual abilities of children because they see various colors and focus on varying distances. These are good for developing not only their eyes but also all their senses.

UV Protection

When you take your children out or when they play outside, always ensure that they have UV protection. According to experts, most of the UV damage we incur to our eyes starts when we are children.

So, having your children wear UV protection will help them have healthy eyes in their old age. The best way to protect your kids from harmful UV rays is to get sunglasses that absorb both UVA and UVB.

Cleanliness

The eyes can develop an infection if they encounter dirt or debris. Hence, teaching your kids how to keep themselves clean is essential. It will ensure that when they touch the area around their eyes, they are not introducing dirt into the eyes. The best way to do this is to teach them to wash their hands regularly, especially when they are outside. 

Safety Eyewear

The eyes are very vulnerable to injury when your children are doing chores. Get your children’s eye goggles for when they are doing chores like mowing the lawn or helping you clean. It will keep their eyes safe from chemical damage or flying debris. 

Limit Screen Time

Nowadays, children are exposed to technology from an early age. It means that without your intervention, they can spend much time in front of a computer screen. A lot of time in front of a digital screen can lead to digital eyestrain that can cause your children to suffer from headaches and irregular sleeping patterns. 

For more tips for keeping kids’ eyes healthy, contact Diamond Bar Optometric Center at our office in Diamond Bar, California. Call (909) 861-4999 to book an appointment today.