As a Mom, I worry about my sons welfare. Because of that I make sure they get their annual physical, are up to date on their vaccinations, eat healthy, nutritious meals and exercise. Yet, the one thing I didn’t pay much attention to was their eyes, at least until they told me they were getting headaches. Like many parents, I overlooked their eye care until they required glasses.
At a recent LensCrafters event, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Mark Jacquot, the Senior Eye Care Director at LensCrafters, and Dr. Michael Chernich, an Optometrist. They provided Latina On a Mission readers with 5 eye care tips every parent should know. Hopefully, they’ll help you as much as they helped me!
Eye Healthy Meals
Fruits and vegetables are extremely important to eyes health. The more colorful, the better! Below are just a few examples of how eye healthy foods protect your eyes:
- Lutein absorbs up to 90% of blue light and acts like sunscreen for the eyes.
- Beta-carotene turns into Vitamin A inside the body and helps protect and lubricate the cornea.
- Omega-3 fatty acids protect the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, help with visual development and fight dry eye syndrome.
- Lycopene helps prevent light-induced damage to the retina.
Protection from Sun
According to Dr. Mark Jacquot, children are more apt to suffer eye damage in the sun. Children’s pupils are larger than adults; as a result, children eyes let in 70% more sun than adults. Because of this, children should wear sunglasses. Just make sure that the sunglasses have poly carbonate lenses that block out all ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Protective Eye Wear
Dr. Chernich stressed the importance of protective eye wear. Just as you wouldn’t send your child to play soccer without shin guards, you should not allow your child to play any intense sports without goggles. Goggles protect their eyes from damage and allow children to play without fear.
Screen Time Care
Children spend more time on smartphones, iPads and laptops. Extended amounts of screen time can have an impact on a child’s sight. As adults, we know we should not stare at a screen for longer than 20 minutes. Children, on the other hand, may not keep track of time as well as we do. This raises their chance of eye fatigue, headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision and more! Follow the following 3 steps to keep their eyes safe:
- Teach children the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of screen time, look away about 20 feet in front of themselves for at least 20 seconds.
- Use artificial tears to hydrate the corneas.
- Switch contacts for glasses with anti-glare lenses to reduce eye strain.
Yearly Eye Exams
Yearly eye exams are as important as yearly doctor’s visits. Dr. Jacquot, points out, “Most eye health issues can be fixed or prevented through early detection yet just 1 in 13 kids have had a comprehensive eye exam by the start of first grade.” It’s important to have an optometrists check your child’s eyes. Children may not know how to vocalize the issues they are having. LensCrafters optometrists are able to conduct tests, like the AccuExam, the most advanced eye exam technology available that can catch any issues your kids may be having.
Let’s talk! Think I missed anything? Let us know in a comment. While you’re at it let us know if your children have annual eye exams!
{ 40 comments… add one }
Ugh, now I feel terrible because I totally need a new prescription, but have been putting off going back to the eye doctor for like 5 years.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) recently posted..Minifigure Trading at LEGOLAND
My son went for his first eye exam this year. During the summer I always make them wear sunglasses to help protect their eyes!
Debra recently posted..#KnowYourZone – Hurricane Season Is Coming, Are You Prepared?
I never allow the kids to sit and stare at screens for very long,They have set times to watch tv,play computer games etc,Saying that i must go and get everyone’s eyes checked again.
Kay Adeola recently posted..Everythingfor10pound
Those are such interesting facts. I never really thought about eye health for my children and I appreciate the awareness.
Clancy Cash Harrison MS, RD, LDN recently posted..Simple Bok Choy Skillet
Annual eye exams and teaching the 20-20-20 rule are SO important. Thanks for the great tips!
Virginia @thatbaldchick recently posted..Summer Learning Loss – 10 Ways to Stop the Summer Learning Slide
Annual eye checkups are important! They can help diagnose other things too.
Jenn @ The Rebel Chick recently posted..Romance and Breyers Gelato Indulgences Go Hand in Hand #GelatoLove
This is such good info, and I am glad you included screen time care.
How informative!
I didnt know that too much exposure to the sun can really effective your eyes, and I am sure that these smartphones and tablets are not helping the younger generations with their eye sights. Great info!
I know our pediatrician does vision testing when the children are a little older (my son is almost 3.) I didn’t realize how much sunglasses could help (I’ll be enforcing them more now!)
Jaime recently posted..10 Things to Smile About – May
We have 3 pairs of sunglasses for Red already! Only one of them is polarized, because we lose them so often. Maybe we need croakies?
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama recently posted..The Time I Starved My Toddler…
I also worry about my children and if they can see as well as they should. At the first sign of my children squinting or struggling to read or see I’ll take them for an eye exam. Right now they get their eyes checked when I take them for their yearly physicals.
Tiffany (Fabulous Mom Blog) recently posted..Maleficent premiere photos
I didn’t know about the 20-20-20 rule. That’s smart though, especially with all the technology in front of them nowadays!
Hanan recently posted..Must Have for Baby: Boppy Newborn Lounger #newbornlounger
I am pretty sure that I just learned a million things from this post. I have terrible eyes. TERRIBLE. These are good tips.
Elizabeth Norton recently posted..Atlantic City Viking Cooking School: An Amazing Escape
I didn’t realize lutein was so beneficial ! Now I’ll look for more ways to get that Into my kiddos
Great tips for eyes. Eye care is very important.
Debbie Denny recently posted..Another Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’ Trailer (FINALLY)!
That’s one thing I’m pretty good about checking every year. I worry about eye health a lot.
Liz Mays recently posted..What Every Mama Wants – #GiftofClean
These are great infos! I believe the eyes are so useful for every one of us that we need not to take it for granted. There are a lot of things we can accomplish with our eyesight and it really behooves us to make the necessary steps to take good care of it. Nice tips! These are really useful and I’ll keep them in mind. 🙂
Your son is adorable. Love his glasses. I think my son needs glasses, he squints a lot. I have an appointment for him next week all set up. Great tips.
Janel (A Mom’s Take) recently posted..Custom Baseball Card for Father’s Day
I needed glasses as a young child so it is so important to practice eye care young! Sunglasses are a must in FL/
krystalskitsch recently posted..WordPress Blog Tips
I have 2 kiddos that wear glasses. 1 has already had eye surgery and the other is heading that way. Eyes are so very important!
Some great advice! I did not know about the Lutein. We are a family of blue eyes, so I will not be using that.
Candace Hagerty recently posted..South Hill Designs By KrystalMarie
It’s hard to believe I got my first pair of glasses at the age of 7. It’s important for parents to take children’s eye-care seriously. Glad to know the 20/20 rule now. WIll make sure my kids do it.
Tonia @TheChattyMomma recently posted..Disney’s MALEFICENT (Review) – See It In Theaters Everywhere Today!
Those look like my son’s glasses! I wish I would have caught my son’s vision problems earlier!
Amanda recently posted..Craft Supplies Every House and Classroom Needs To Have
Great post! A lot of parents don’t know that kids eyes should be protected and I encourage my toddler to wear her sunglasses in the summer but also in the winter as well.
Amanda @ Growing Up Madison recently posted..Spring Rabbit Cupcakes – Recipe
I wear my sunglasses consistently. I think that greatly helps my vision. And not fashion sunglasses, real sunglasses.
Beth@FrugalFroggie recently posted..Top Mommy Blog 5-30-14
I refuse to wear sunglasses because I stand the feel of it on my face. As I get older I find that I need to start wearing it. Thanks for the tips for helping take care of our eyes
veronica recently posted..Crushing On Navy Blue
I do feel guilty because I don’t believe my kids had yearly eye exams when they were growing up. They of course were seen by their pediatrician several times a year and he examined their eyes.
I can’t go anywhere without my sunglasses. My eyes are just too sensitive and I know they need the protection. Great tips!
I had no idea about this! I’m glad I clicked over to read. Thankfully, little man does love to wear sunglasses when he’s outside though. He takes that after his dad. haha!
Jenni E. {Sweet Pennies from Heaven} recently posted..Travel Easier this Summer with an iPad Mini – Reader Giveaway
Eye health is so important. Thank you for sharing the tips. My kids both have blue eyes and I told them how important it is to wear sunglasses.
Great tips for healthy eyes, not matter what age! I often forget about the healthy diet part
Christie recently posted..Weekend Giveaway Round Up 5-30
I can honestly say that I just learned something. Thanks for all of the info. Healthy eyes are important!
StacieinAtlanta recently posted..Why You NEED @Jockey Skimmies® Slipshorts {GIVEAWAY} #SkimmiesPromo
Thanks for these tips! I need to work on screen time with myself and the kids for sure!
Lisa recently posted..Peeps Minis Twitter Party #PEEPSMINISWM
I am really bad about eye exams! We have vision coverage- the only reason I don’t go is because my vision is good, so I don’t think about it. Thank you for the pointers- I will be setting appointments soon!
Carly Bellard recently posted..Throwback Thursday: M and her Best Friend
I wish every kid had to have an eye exam before entering kindergarten. It is amazing how many kids’ suffer because their vision is impaired.
Kathy recently posted..A Better Pharmacy Experience & $50 Target Gift Card Giveaway!
Great tips! My son had eye surgery when 2 and we go every 6 months. We are so careful!
Melissa recently posted..5 Musical Movies for Kids! #StreamTeam
These are really helpful tips. I need to go get sunglasses for my kids.
Shell recently posted..Mom-Guilt Madness
Yearly eye exams for kids are so important. Kids eyes change so much while they are growing that a lot of times you can fix a problem just by catching it with that yearly exam 🙂
Cassie @ Southeast by Midwest recently posted..5 Best Makeup Removers
Eye care and regular eye exams should be a part of life just like the twice a year dental exams and yearly physicals we give our children.
Janeane Davis recently posted..Balance It – No More Crabs in a Barrel – Encourage a Friend
Great tips! That’s crazy how much more sun kiddo eyes absorb than ours!
Christina S recently posted..Why We Relay
I wonder how many children get eye exams regularly, or how many parents wait until the child starts to complain. I don’t remember going at all as a child.
Jessica (Savory Experiments) recently posted..Sausage Sliders with Pickled Shallots, Roasted Red Pepper and Alfalfa Sprouts #KingsHawaiian