Introduction

                                                  Image Credit: Young African girl at home. Freepik

ByL DLHA Staff Writer.

Did you know that nearly 2 billion people globally are having problems with their vision and many children have trouble seeing things at a distance?

Here are some important things to know as a parent, guardian, caregiver or teacher in order to protect your child’s or ward's  vision.

• What are the early signs of eyesight problems in children?

• How would you know if your child is at risk?

• What you can do to protect your child’s vision

Early Warning Signs

Early signs that your child may have eyesight problems, include:

• Eye rubbing, squinting and closing one eye to see clearly

• Holding reading materials and devices close to their eyes

• Moving close to objects to see clearly
• Underperformance at school

Causes and Risk factors of Eye Problems in Children

                                Image credit: African boy holding smartphone close to eyes. Freepik

Some causes and risk factors of shortsightedness among children include:

• Heredity or Genetics (if a parent or both parents have eye problems, your child is more likely to have one too.

• Long time spent on near-work activities, like;
  • Looking at devices or reading materials for a long period of time
  • Spending less times outdoors

Prevention

                                       Image credit: African boys playing together outdoors. Freepik

What parents, guardians, caregivers and teachers can do to protect children’s eye health

• Take your child or ward for regular eye check-ups by an eye doctor, so that any problems can be identified early and corrective action can be taken promptly.

• Allow or encourage children to spend at least 90 minutes outdoors during daylight hours each day

• Reduce time spent on near activities (i..e., looking at devices or reading materials for long periods)

• Encourage children to wear their spectacles regularly if one has been prescribed for them

Adapted from: WHO Science in 5: How can you protect your child’s vision?

Published: December 2, 2023

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