August is observed as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month to remind you that there aren’t any excuses or shortcuts in maintaining the healthy eyesight of children. As your child is back to school, their busy academic life will be putting great demand on the functioning of brains, eyes and the coordination of both. The vision demands of students are unique, so their eyes require special care to ensure that they are seeing great throughout the academic year. Students have to be especially careful about many potential vision-related problems that can affect anyone, anytime.
During this Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, it is important to make students aware that eye health and safety is as much important as getting regular eye checkup near me. Students should understand how to prevent eye infections and injuries and how eyes and vision can be impacted by overall health habits. Read on this blog to know some important tips on how students can take care of their eyes:
1. Reduce Screen Time
Today’s educational system demands students to spend long hours on smartphones, tablets and computers reading books or textbooks which poses an increased risk of digital eyestrain than when reading from a printed page. Many students are also spending time on gaming consoles for an extended period of time which can lead to computer vision syndrome.
Minimal screen time can help prevent symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome such as eyestrain, headaches, blurry vision and dry eyes. Students can ensure adequate sleep and physical activity by reducing the amount of screen time and avoiding screen time before bed. Students who are needed to engage in screen time for a long time should follow the 20-20-20 rule of looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
2. Increase outdoor activities
Spending more time outdoors can not only be physically beneficial for students but prevents the onset and progression of vision problems like myopia. They should be encouraged to play outside rather than indoor games or video games.
Wear Eye protection
Students who are into sports and games can be at the risk of getting their eyes injured. Wearing UV protective filter sunglasses, helmets and sports goggles can help prevent 90% of eye injuries caused by UV radiation and physical causes. It is also important for students to wear swimming goggles while playing in the water and wear sports eye protectors while playing team sports like football, soccer and hockey.
3. Wear blue-light protective glasses
While updating the power of your eyeglass lens at the recommended intervals, LED blue light filters are also recommended for students to alleviate the effects of long-term exposure to digital screens. Blue-light protective eyeglasses can significantly reduce the retinal photodamage that can even result in chronic, long-term vision damage if exposure is high and long enough. Glasses that are specifically designed to filter out blue light from device screens can prevent the deterioration or breakdown of eye cells due to LED exposure. Many children’s eye hospital in Ghaziabad has been including an LED blue light filter for the eyeglasses they prescribe for students. Those who are already wearing eyeglasses may visit the best children’s eye care in Ghaziabad to get an LED blue light filter included in your prescription.
4. Schedule annual eye checkups
The most effective way to ensure healthy eyes for students is by scheduling their annual eye exam around the time when they are home from school for the holidays. Scheduling an annual eye checkup at a children’s eye care near me may help determine vision problems in school and college students and protect their eyes. Annual eye examinations for students are more important than ever as the increased use of technology among students causes the eyes to age prematurely. This can increase the risk of early onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration and many other eyesight problems. An annual eye check is more necessary for students as early diagnosis and interventions could help protect their vision in most cases.
Students who have noticed worsening symptoms like red, stinging, watery or exhausted eyes should get their eye examination at the earliest regardless of the annual exam. Regular vision screening shouldn’t be missed by students who have chronic illnesses or any history of pediatric eye diseases in the family. Seeing the best eye doctor in Ghaziabad can help students find relief and protection from vision problems.
During this Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, school and college students should be made aware of eye care measures to improve their eyesight, perform well in the classroom and prevent vision problems caused by exposure to screen light. These measures help protect your vision from various problems caused by prolonged exposure to gadget screens, study materials and stressful environments. Dr Shalini Jain’s Samyak Eye Care Clinic has the best eye doctor in Ghaziabad to provide you with specialised treatment and care for your eyesight.