5 tips for good eye health in kids

1. Send the kiddies outside

Research suggests that increasing the amount of time children spend outdoors could reduce the risk of them becoming myopic (that is, near-sighted) in the future. A UK study has found that children who spent more time outdoors at age eight to nine years were only about half as likely to become short-sighted by the age of 15.

Melbourne optometrist Tim Fricke* says that for a long time it was thought that kids who read a lot would end up with myopia. “But it’s now thought that maybe these kids who love reading just spend less time outside and so aren’t getting the benefits.”

2. Eat an eye-healthy diet

Ask anyone which foods are good for eyes and most will answer ‘carrots’ – and while they are a great food for eyes because of their vitamin A content, a diet high in foods rich in vitamins, omega 3s and antioxidants has been found to help preserve eyesight throughout the years.  

Some great foods for kids to munch today to help preserve their eyesight of tomorrow include leafy greens like spinach and kale, fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C like strawberries and grapefruit, seeds and nuts for their high vitamin E content, turkey and oysters for zinc and lots of oily fish like tuna and salmon, plus eggs, for omega 3 fatty acids. Research has linked all of these with lower risks of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

3. Sunglasses are more than cool

Many of us really start wearing sunglasses in our teens and 20s – but scientists believe children’s eyes are much more susceptible to UV damage than adults’. Wearing sunglasses as a tot can help protect against the most common eye conditions that develop later in life, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

When choosing shades for the kids, ensure they have standard UV 400 lenses or 100 percent UV protection.

4. Get their eyes checked

There doesn’t need to be a problem to get a standard eye check. Ideally, all children should have a comprehensive eye check before starting school as some problems, such as strabismus (turned eye) and amblyopia (lazy eye), are much more successfully treated when children are young. Plus, says Tim, if there are vision issues, it can impact on learning and behaviour significantly.

5. Monitor their use of digital devices

Make sure the space in which they’re using the screens is comfortably lit, they aren’t holding the device too close and they take regular breaks (Tim suggests at least five minutes an hour).

Read more at kidtas.com