It’s that time of year when parents start gearing up to send children back to school. And although this year may look a lot different from years past, there are still several things that most parents are probably still doing. Such as getting those well-checks, shopping for school supplies and clothes, and ensuring that the kids have the immunizations they need.
One thing that could be overlooked, but should not be, is eye care and health.
Most insurances will cover the vision exam performed by an optometrist as it is considered preventive care.
Children between the ages of 6 and 18 can have rapid changes to their vision that come on suddenly. Because vision is so paramount to learning, whether it is at home or in the classroom, it is important that these issues are addressed and corrected quickly. Some symptoms of a vision change include:
- Squinting
- Holding a book very closely or very far away
- Using a pencil or other device to keep their place when reading (even social media posts)
- Headaches when reading
- Double vision or other issues
Even if your child passed the screening at the doctor’s office or at school, if they exhibit these symptoms, it is time to get them into the optometrist for a full exam.
There are other things that all of us should be doing in order to make sure that our eyes are as healthy as they can be. These include:
- Protecting our eyes from UV rays with sunglasses
- Using the 20-20-20 rule when using computers or other blue-screen devices
- This rule means that when you have been using the device for 20 minutes, look away for at least 20 seconds and look at least 20-feet away.
- Also, make sure that you are blinking enough.
- Placing devices in the best ergonomic position.
It is always important to keep eye care in mind so that your eyes and your children’s eyes stay as healthy as possible!
As always, our team at Beach Kids Pediatrics is here for you if you need help preparing for the school year ahead! Visit us online or call us at (757) 806-8880.
