August is National Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month, a great time to review how we can protect our kids’ precious eyesight. Eye injuries are common in children, with about one-third of all eye injuries in the U.S. happening to those 17 and younger. Many of these injuries come from falls, sports, improper use of everyday items, and even car accidents. But with a few simple steps, you can help keep your child’s eyes safe at home, outdoors, during playtime, and on the go.
Eye Safety at Home
Making your home child-safe is key to preventing eye injuries. Here are some tips:
- Secure Stairs: Use baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Make sure stairs have good lighting and sturdy handrails.
- Pad Sharp Edges: Cover sharp corners on furniture like tables and hearths to prevent bumps and scrapes.
- Lock Cabinets: Use locks on kitchen and bathroom cabinets to keep little hands out of dangerous areas.
- Store Hazardous Items: Keep cosmetics, toiletries, kitchen utensils, and office supplies out of reach. Store cleaning supplies, paints, pesticides, and fertilizers in a secure place.
Outdoor Eye Protection
The outdoors is fantastic for kids, but the sun’s rays can be harmful. Children’s eyes are more sensitive to UV light than adults’.
- Sunglasses are Key: Always have your child wear child-sized sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Starting good habits early is important, as UV damage adds up over time.
Toy Safety Tips
Toys bring joy, but some can be dangerous if not used correctly or given to a child who is too young.
- Read Instructions: Always read the warnings and instructions for new toys.
- Avoid Dangerous Designs: Steer clear of toys with sharp points, spikes, or edges.
- Look for the ASTM Mark: When buying toys, check for the ASTM mark, which means the toy meets national safety standards.
- Age Appropriateness: Keep toys meant for older children away from younger kids.
Sports and Screen Time for Children’s Eye Health
Sports are great for kids, but they also carry a risk of eye injury. And with more screen time, eye strain is a growing concern.
- Protective Eyewear for Sports: Children under 15 account for a large percentage of sports-related eye injuries. Sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, and hockey have a higher risk. Wearing the right protective eyewear can prevent 9 out of 10 sports-related eye injuries. Sports glasses or goggles can be prescription, but all eyes need protection.
- Managing Computer Use: Smartphones, tablets, and computers can cause eye strain.
- Position screens slightly farther away than a book and a little below eye level.
- Keep screens clean and glare-free.
- Most importantly, limit screen time and schedule regular breaks to rest eyes.
Children’s Car Safety for Eyes
Car safety is about more than just seatbelts; loose items can be dangerous projectiles.
- Proper Car Seat Installation: Ensure child safety seats and booster seats are correctly installed, and safety belts are always used.
- Secure Loose Items: Store groceries or other loose items in the trunk or secure them to the floorboards. In a sudden stop or crash, these can become dangerous.
- Back Seat Safety: As children grow, make sure they continue to sit in the back seat until they are tall enough to properly wear shoulder seat belts.
The best way to ensure your Children’s Eye Health and Safety is through a long-term approach. This means regularly checking their eye safety needs as they grow and making sure they get yearly eye exams. These precautions, along with regular eye check-ups, can help keep your child’s eyes healthy for life and teach them valuable habits for prioritizing their vision.