As the end of summer fast approaches and the first day of school is just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about school supplies, replace those torn jeans or outgrown sneakers, and make sure your child has all the necessary immunizations as well as an up-to-date physical – including an eye exam. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month declared by Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization. Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month is part of an effort to encourage parents to learn about ways they can help protect their child’s vision.

Vision problems affect one in four school-aged children who often don’t realize they have problems with their vision because they think how they see is how everyone else sees. That means they often learn to compensate with their vision problems without fixing them, which can lead to more problems in school and later in life. Eye problems can range from common refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, to serious eye conditions including amblyopia or “lazy eye” and strabismus or “crossed eyes.” The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus recommend the following exams at various stages in a child’s development:

• Newborn: A red reflex test is a basic indicator that your baby’s eyes are normal. A comprehensive exam should be performed if your baby is premature or at high risk for medical problems, has signs of abnormalities, or has a family history of serious vision disorders in childhood.
• Infant: A second screening is typically done at a well-child exam between six months and the first birthday.
• Preschooler: Between the ages of 3 and 3 ½ your child’s vision and eye alignment should be assessed. Visual acuity should be tested as soon as your child is old enough to cooperate with an eye exam using an eye chart.
• School age: Upon entering school or whenever a problem is suspected, make sure your child’s eyes are screened for visual acuity and alignment.

To keep eyes clean and healthy in the summer months, I like to use these new eyelid wipes from Flents. They easily and gently remove debris from the eyelid and eye area. Because they are rinse-free, preservative-free and hypoallergenic, they are safe and gentle enough for infants, children – and adults. If you are a caregiver for an older adult, they also work well to soothe and clean eyes that are easily irritated.

If your child participates in sports, it’s important for them to know eye safety practices and use protective eyewear as appropriate. For ideas on eye protection, check out this great resource with recommended sports eye protection for your child athlete. Did you know? More than 90 percent of all eye injuries can be prevented through use of suitable protective eyewear. If an injury does occur, you can find instructions on basic eye injury first aid for chemical burns, specks in the eye, blows to the eye, and cuts and punctures of the eye or eyelid here.

-Susan