In the UK, 1 out of 5 children has an undetected problem with their vision and poor eye health is on the rise as parents are not taking their children for tests.
Poor eye health is a serious problem not only for children’s health but also for their quality of life. By parents neglecting the need for eye tests, this can have an impact on the child’s learning ability, as reading and writing may suffer, and physical activities, which involve hand-eye coordination.
“Visual impairment in children can have a significant and detrimental impact on a child’s education, their future employment prospects and their mental wellbeing. We strongly encourage parents to ensure that their children have regular eye tests so that any eye disease and visual impairment can be detected at an early stage to give the best chance of successful remedial interventions.” Mike Daw, National Eye Research Centre CEO.
It’s advised children should have their first eye test by aged three, and important to have regular check-ups at least every two years to identify any issues. You can also follow the tips below to help with eye care for children:
- Wear sunglasses to help reduce sight damage from the sun
- Ensure adequate lighting when children are doing homework
- Look out of squinting or lazy eyes when they are reading or writing
- Make sure books are 30-40 cm away from the eyes when reading
- When using the computer, the screen must be 50 cm away from the eyes
- Reduce the time spent watching television or on electronic devices
- Eat vegetables and vitamins rich in vitamins A and C.
Help fight poor eye health among kids with more information from Feel Good Contacts.
