Protect Your Child's Vision With These 3 Simple Tips

Vision is one of our most valuable senses. Protect your child’s eyes by avoiding these 3 things and scheduling regular visits to your local Calgary children’s eye doctor. 

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As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to ensure that your child has a high quality of life and grows up to become a happy, well-balanced adult. This means you need to look after them properly, including taking care of their eyesight.

Some common problems children can have with their vision include:

• Squint
• Color blindness
• Astigmatism
• Lazy eye
• Short or long-sightedness

Scheduling regular visits to your local Calgary kid’s eye doctor is important to ensure that such conditions are detected and solved early, to prevent any long-term problems.

Why Visit Market Mall Optometry

Our qualified Calgary eye doctors provide a wide range of children’s vision services, from emergency eye care to contact lens fittings, to ensure the long-term safety, clarity and comfort of your entire family’s eyesight.

 

3 Things to Watch Out For When Protecting Your Child’s Vision

While it is very important to schedule regular visits to a kid’s eye doctor, it’s also crucial that you do whatever you can at home to avoid them sustaining any damage to their vision.

Here are 3 things you must keep in mind:

1. AVOID EXPOSURE TO THE SUN

While it’s true that children who spend more time outdoors tend to have healthier and happier lifestyles, you must remember that UV light has been associated with several eye issues including a higher risk later on in life for:

• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Retinal damage

That’s why so many kid’s eye doctors recommend that you ensure your child wears sunglasses with UV protection whenever they are outdoors.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING SUNGLASSES FOR YOUR CHILD

• Look for sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays. Ask your child’s eye doctor for sunglasses that block 99-100% of UV light and they can help find the best pair for your little one.
• Choose sunglasses with an elastic band to prevent loss or damage to your child’s sunglasses.
• Purchase impact-resistant lenses with flexible frames, especially if you have an active child who spends a lot of time outside or plays sports, as they are less likely to break and cause a potential eye or facial injury.

 

2. BEWARE OF COMPUTER SCREENS

While it is almost impossible to keep your children away from computer or phone screens nowadays, you must make sure to minimize their exposure as much as possible.

Eye doctors often recommend that children over the age of three should spend NO MORE than 2 hours a day looking at a screen, while children younger than three should have NO SCREEN EXPOSURE at all.

Excessive use of computers, tablets and smartphones can have a significant impact on your child’s vision, including:

• Development of computer vision syndrome
• Overexposure to blue-light that can increase the risk of macular degeneration or retinal damage later on
• Prolonged computer use puts children at risk of progressive myopia
• Digital eye strain which is associated with dry/sore eyes and difficulty focusing

 

3. TOYS

Toys play a very important part in your child's development. However, as a parent, you must be very aware of the potential dangers some toys can present to your child's eyes, including retinal detachments and corneal ulcers.

Some toys most kid’s eye doctors recommend you AVOID include:

• Guns that shoot projectiles
• Water guns and water balloon launchers
• Bright flashlight and laser pointers
• Toy wands, guns with bayonets, sabers and swords
• Toy fishing poles
• Aerosol string

Calgary Eye Emergency Services

At Market Mall Optometry, we know that sometimes emergencies happen. Our children’s eye doctors are specially trained to deal with a wide variety of eye emergencies and can provide proactive diagnosis and treatment, which will:

• Reduce pain and discomfort
• Promote healing
• Prevent any vision loss

Remember: Most eye emergencies can be effectively treated when addressed early. If you or a family member are experiencing an eye emergency, contact our Calgary eye clinic today.

 

Book an Appointment With a Calgary Kids' Eye Doctor

To find out more about how our qualified, friendly and gentle children’s eye doctors can help protect the health and clarity of your young one’s vision, call our Calgary eye clinic today at  403-286-4884 or book an eye exam today.