Myopia progression is becoming more common in children. Especially after COVID lockdowns and stay at home orders have forced all of our kids to spend more time on screens.
Some simple methods and precautions can help you strengthen your child’s vision. These are not cures for myopia progression in children. There are no cures, since myopia cannot be reversed. But we can help strengthen your child’s vision.
Here are some tips for strengthening your child’s vision:
Eat Healthy and Exercise
Several foods can support your child’s vision. Include vegetables, fruits, and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins A, C, and E to their diet. These rich vitamins and minerals are super important to ensuring healthy vision.
Moreover, also make it a routine to exercise with your child in your house. Your child needs to do some physical workouts to improve eyesight. Physical activities keep the oxygen and blood flowing throughout the body, which promotes good eye health.
Going outside and playing catch with your child for instance can help improve hand eye coordination and help your child’s eye see far, see near and repeat it so that the eye muscle gets trained and becomes more flexible.
Play Some Games
Do you know that your children can become healthy by playing games and participating in physical activities? It includes putting a puzzle together and hand and eye coordination games.
According to American Optometric Association (AOA), the following eyesight improving games or activities are excellent for children of different age groups.
- 0-5 months: patty cake and peekaboo
- 6-8 months: playing hide and seek with toys and reading to your child
- 9-12 months: rolling a ball back and forth and reading to your child
- 1 year: reading to them and throwing a ball to your child
- 2 years old: catching activities and reading to them
- 3-6 years old: running, climbing, and using playground equipment
- 7 years and older: cycling and other types of outdoor sports
Know Your Family History
Many eye conditions are hereditary. If you or any family member has an eye condition, your child is at the risk of developing the same issue. Therefore, it is important to know about your family history, as well as discuss it with your doctor.
Myopia is often a hereditary condition and can affect your child if you or your spouse have myopia.
Dr. Kandi Moller, Optometrist and Myopia Management specialist notes, “If you and your spouse have myopia, then at some point, it is likely that your child will have it. In our practice in Gig Harbor, Washington, we have seen a lot of kids and teens whose eyesight has gotten worse lately. Some of it may be due to more time indoors but also due to the fact that parents are at home these days and are noticing their children squinting and complaining of headaches or blurriness when trying to see distance.”
An experienced Optometrist like Dr. Kandi Moller will discuss precaution and preventive measures with you so that your child doesn’t develop this problem in the future.
Limit Screen Time
Prolonged screen time can also affect your child’s eyesight. It can lead to focusing problems, blurring vision, and increase the risk of developing myopia. Doing more near work is certainly a contributing factor.
Limiting screen time and encouraging your child to take frequent breaks while using any device can help you strengthen their vision. It is important to note that break is also vital when they are participating in activities like writing, drawing, and reading.
“Looking away from your computer or iPad or TV every 20 minutes is important not only because it gives your eyes some rest but also because it helps strengthen their vision.”, Dr. Kandi Moller, myopia management specialist in Gig Harbor, WA.
Go for Routine Eye Exams
Infants should have their first eye exam when they are six months old. This is because an optometrist can identify any possible eye problem in your children at an early stage.
Moreover, if your child complains about blurry visions, headaches, this might be an indication of some common problems. It includes amblyopia, hyperopic, and myopia. Schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any signs of eye problems.
Bottom Line
Besides the above-mentioned safety measures, you also need to make your child wear protective glasses or sunglasses to save their eyes from harsh sun rays. Plus, make sure to keep chemical products away from infants and toddlers to protect your child’s vision.
https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/ways-to-improve-kids-vision/
https://www.myopiainstitute.com/eye-care/5-tips-to-protect-your-childs-vision/
Myopia progression is becoming more common in children. Especially after COVID lockdowns and stay at home orders have forced all of our kids to spend more time on screens.
Some simple methods and precautions can help you strengthen your child’s vision. These are not cures for myopia progression in children. There are no cures, since myopia cannot be reversed. But we can help strengthen your child’s vision.
Here are some tips for strengthening your child’s vision:
Eat Healthy and Exercise
Several foods can support your child’s vision. Include vegetables, fruits, and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins A, C, and E to their diet. These rich vitamins and minerals are super important to ensuring healthy vision.
Moreover, also make it a routine to exercise with your child in your house. Your child needs to do some physical workouts to improve eyesight. Physical activities keep the oxygen and blood flowing throughout the body, which promotes good eye health.
Going outside and playing catch with your child for instance can help improve hand eye coordination and help your child’s eye see far, see near and repeat it so that the eye muscle gets trained and becomes more flexible.
Play Some Games
Do you know that your children can become healthy by playing games and participating in physical activities? It includes putting a puzzle together and hand and eye coordination games.
According to American Optometric Association (AOA), the following eyesight improving games or activities are excellent for children of different age groups.
- 0-5 months: patty cake and peekaboo
- 6-8 months: playing hide and seek with toys and reading to your child
- 9-12 months: rolling a ball back and forth and reading to your child
- 1 year: reading to them and throwing a ball to your child
- 2 years old: catching activities and reading to them
- 3-6 years old: running, climbing, and using playground equipment
- 7 years and older: cycling and other types of outdoor sports
Know Your Family History
Many eye conditions are hereditary. If you or any family member has an eye condition, your child is at the risk of developing the same issue. Therefore, it is important to know about your family history, as well as discuss it with your doctor.
Myopia is often a hereditary condition and can affect your child if you or your spouse have myopia.
Dr. Kandi Moller, Optometrist and Myopia Management specialist notes, “If you and your spouse have myopia, then at some point, it is likely that your child will have it. In our practice in Gig Harbor, Washington, we have seen a lot of kids and teens whose eyesight has gotten worse lately. Some of it may be due to more time indoors but also due to the fact that parents are at home these days and are noticing their children squinting and complaining of headaches or blurriness when trying to see distance.”
An experienced Optometrist like Dr. Kandi Moller will discuss precaution and preventive measures with you so that your child doesn’t develop this problem in the future.
Limit Screen Time
Prolonged screen time can also affect your child’s eyesight. It can lead to focusing problems, blurring vision, and increase the risk of developing myopia. Doing more near work is certainly a contributing factor.
Limiting screen time and encouraging your child to take frequent breaks while using any device can help you strengthen their vision. It is important to note that break is also vital when they are participating in activities like writing, drawing, and reading.
“Looking away from your computer or iPad or TV every 20 minutes is important not only because it gives your eyes some rest but also because it helps strengthen their vision.”, Dr. Kandi Moller, myopia management specialist in Gig Harbor, WA.
Go for Routine Eye Exams
Infants should have their first eye exam when they are six months old. This is because an optometrist can identify any possible eye problem in your children at an early stage.
Moreover, if your child complains about blurry visions, headaches, this might be an indication of some common problems. It includes amblyopia, hyperopic, and myopia. Schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you notice any signs of eye problems.
Bottom Line
Besides the above-mentioned safety measures, you also need to make your child wear protective glasses or sunglasses to save their eyes from harsh sun rays. Plus, make sure to keep chemical products away from infants and toddlers to protect your child’s vision.
https://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/ways-to-improve-kids-vision/
https://www.myopiainstitute.com/eye-care/5-tips-to-protect-your-childs-vision/
