Our vision seems to be one of the most important senses of the body, which is why we have to protect and care for them every now and then. Most eye problems in children are due to accidents and trauma, whereas adults tend to experience eyestrain due to improper use of the eyes and exposure to harmful conditions. Read along to find out tips on taking good care of the eyes for various age brackets.
Infants
Because infants and toddlers are too young to take care for themselves, it is the guardian or the parent’s responsibility to protect the baby’s eyes.
Babies do not know when to shut their eyes like during dusty conditions. Even while playing, rubbing the eyes with dirty hands may cause serious problems. Hence, when playing with babies, toys and mobiles must be held at least 30 centimeters away from the eyes.
Babies’ eyes must not be directed to sunlight. When indoors, the crib must be positioned in such a way that the sun’s rays will not directly strike at the infant. Use a bonnet or a canopy over the head when going outdoors.
Naturally, toddlers are prone to touching various objects around him, so parents should always keep an eye on them. The hands must be checked periodically as they may harbor dust and minute particles that can be introduced to the eyes whenever they rub it with their hands. Furthermore, the fingernails must be cut short to prevent the child from inflicting injury to his/her own eyes. Babies should wear mittens.
Eye discharges or any eye abnormalities must be reported to the doctor immediately.
Preschoolers
The curiosity of preschoolers is astounding. Children at this stage will become more curious and so parents must be more careful in looking after them especially in correcting every bad habit that he/she acquires that may ruin his good vision.
Begin with a diet rich in vitamin A--yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, papaya and squash.
Preschoolers can already be taught practices to prevent eye infection or injury. Most importantly, teach the child to avoid touching or rubbing the eyes particularly when foreign matter such as dust enters them.
Younger children must also be taught to avoid playing with sharps and pointed objects as they may be dangerous. Do not play or poke them into someone else’s eyes. If possible, buy items that have blunted edges. For example, scissors must have plastic casings.
School age
As the child moves up in the ladder of education, he will be engrossed with reading and school activities. Thus, proper reading habits must be taught to him. The child must be provided with an environment where he can apply the correct reading habits he has learned. As soon as parents notice their child having difficulty in reading a material from the average distance, take him to an ophthalmologist. Corrective lenses may already be necessary to help the child see clearly.
Adults
Most grownups have a pretty good grasp of the essentials of eye care. However, because of their busy schedule, they tend to delay eye checkups until the damage is already irreversible. And depending on the lifestyle and career, many also put excessive stress on their eyes.
Basic eye-care advice is practically the same for adults and for children: regular checkups, good reading habits, frequent eye rests, adequate protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and the use of safety eye gear when working with or around objects that can damage the eyes.
If you notice reading difficulties, you should have periodic checkups with your ophthalmologist at least once in a year. Near-sightedness usually slows down when the person is in his 20s. However, sever near-sightedness with a grade greater than 500 may require regular consultation with the doctor.
As part of the aging process, one may also experience visual difficulties particularly in focusing on near objects. This condition is called presbyopia, which is easily corrected by using corrective lenses.
People aged 45 onwards who have glaucoma running in the family must see an ophthalmologist at least every year. Glaucoma, a condition wherein there is an increased fluid pressure inside the eye, can lead to blindness. However, with modern science, the disease is highly manageable when detected at an early stage.
Diabetics also have an increased risk for becoming blind due to retinal damage as part of the complications of the disease process.
Infants
Because infants and toddlers are too young to take care for themselves, it is the guardian or the parent’s responsibility to protect the baby’s eyes.
Babies do not know when to shut their eyes like during dusty conditions. Even while playing, rubbing the eyes with dirty hands may cause serious problems. Hence, when playing with babies, toys and mobiles must be held at least 30 centimeters away from the eyes.
Babies’ eyes must not be directed to sunlight. When indoors, the crib must be positioned in such a way that the sun’s rays will not directly strike at the infant. Use a bonnet or a canopy over the head when going outdoors.
Naturally, toddlers are prone to touching various objects around him, so parents should always keep an eye on them. The hands must be checked periodically as they may harbor dust and minute particles that can be introduced to the eyes whenever they rub it with their hands. Furthermore, the fingernails must be cut short to prevent the child from inflicting injury to his/her own eyes. Babies should wear mittens.
Eye discharges or any eye abnormalities must be reported to the doctor immediately.
Preschoolers
The curiosity of preschoolers is astounding. Children at this stage will become more curious and so parents must be more careful in looking after them especially in correcting every bad habit that he/she acquires that may ruin his good vision.
Begin with a diet rich in vitamin A--yellow and orange fruits and vegetables such as carrots, papaya and squash.
Preschoolers can already be taught practices to prevent eye infection or injury. Most importantly, teach the child to avoid touching or rubbing the eyes particularly when foreign matter such as dust enters them.
Younger children must also be taught to avoid playing with sharps and pointed objects as they may be dangerous. Do not play or poke them into someone else’s eyes. If possible, buy items that have blunted edges. For example, scissors must have plastic casings.
School age
As the child moves up in the ladder of education, he will be engrossed with reading and school activities. Thus, proper reading habits must be taught to him. The child must be provided with an environment where he can apply the correct reading habits he has learned. As soon as parents notice their child having difficulty in reading a material from the average distance, take him to an ophthalmologist. Corrective lenses may already be necessary to help the child see clearly.
Adults
Most grownups have a pretty good grasp of the essentials of eye care. However, because of their busy schedule, they tend to delay eye checkups until the damage is already irreversible. And depending on the lifestyle and career, many also put excessive stress on their eyes.
Basic eye-care advice is practically the same for adults and for children: regular checkups, good reading habits, frequent eye rests, adequate protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and the use of safety eye gear when working with or around objects that can damage the eyes.
If you notice reading difficulties, you should have periodic checkups with your ophthalmologist at least once in a year. Near-sightedness usually slows down when the person is in his 20s. However, sever near-sightedness with a grade greater than 500 may require regular consultation with the doctor.
As part of the aging process, one may also experience visual difficulties particularly in focusing on near objects. This condition is called presbyopia, which is easily corrected by using corrective lenses.
People aged 45 onwards who have glaucoma running in the family must see an ophthalmologist at least every year. Glaucoma, a condition wherein there is an increased fluid pressure inside the eye, can lead to blindness. However, with modern science, the disease is highly manageable when detected at an early stage.
Diabetics also have an increased risk for becoming blind due to retinal damage as part of the complications of the disease process.
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