Dr Jugadoe: Proactive eye check-ups for children crucial to identify potential issues early

World Sight Day will be celebrated on October 10, with this year’s theme “Love Your Eyes” focusing on eye care in children.

The aim is to create awareness and inspire children, parents and teachers everywhere to ensure that children around the world have access to clear healthy vision and to love their eyes now and long into the future.

All children should have their eyes tested at pre-school age. This can be done at a primary healthcare service, and if required by a paediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Even though many school-age children are far-sighted, as they age their eyes also grow and far-sightedness often improves on its own.

However, significant refractive errors including far-sightedness (hyperopia), short-sightedness (myopia), or astigmatism can lead to amblyopia or “lazy eye” if left uncorrected.

Treatment includes patching therapy and spectacles.

The impact of digital devices on children’s vision

Children are spending more time than ever looking at tablets, smart phones and computer screens close-up, leading to school-age myopia.

This also leads to digital eye strain as the eyes don’t relax by not spending enough time looking into the distance. We also naturally blink less when staring at screens for long periods and this leads to tired eyes.

Encourage your child to follow the 20-20-20 rule. Look up from the screen every 20 minutes and focus at least 20 feet (six metres) away for 20 seconds.

They should also limit screen time and take frequent breaks to spend time outdoors to relax their eyes and lower the risk of myopia and digital eye strain.

The World Health Organisation recommends no more than one hour of screen time for children under the age of five as it is also linked to physical inactivity and poor sleep patterns.

Other eye health problems in children

Children with crossed eyes (strabismus) or eyes that turn inwards or outwards occasionally or all the time, must have an eye examination to exclude serious eye conditions, prevent the development of lazy eye and correct the deviation.

Conjunctivitis (allergic and infective), droopy eyelids, childhood cataracts and glaucoma and injuries may also affect children.

In summary, keep an eye on your child’s vision and make sure your child has routine eye exams to keep their eyes healthy.

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