Eye health can significantly impact the overall quality of life, especially among children. Experts reveal that children rely on their vision for up to 80% of their learning, including social, emotional, physical, and academic development. Unfortunately, nearly 7% of all kids under the age of 18 suffer from some sort of vision impairment. Furthermore, vision disability is among the top 10 disabilities in this age group, especially among children. 

Since vision plays such a huge role in daily life, having impairments can also affect parents and their relationship with each other. The Arkansas Children’s Hospital states that marriages with chronically ill children may experience extra strain that can be highly detrimental in the long run. The good news is that vision issues are treatable and preventable. To ensure your children have the best vision possible, it’s best to teach them eye care habits as early as possible. Here are a few to share:

Eat more eye-friendly foods

Good health starts from within, and your diet plays a big part in your well-being. As a rule of thumb, specialists recommend “eating the rainbow.” This means including colorful fruits and veggies in daily meals, like spinach, squash, berries, etc. These are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help nourish the eyes and purge oxidative stress. Adding in healthy fats and lean proteins such as fish and poultry can further boost eye health thanks to the zinc and vitamin A they have. These strengthen the cornea and retina, which are essential to good vision. Of course, the best way to get kids to eat healthy is by joining them. Just as eating right together as a couple helps with accountability, observing a balanced diet as a family makes it a more encouraging group effort.

Keep your eyes and hands clean

On average, the CDC notes that a child touches their face more than 23 times an hour. This includes a lot of eye rubbing, which can be concerning. This can facilitate the transfer of bacteria and germs and can also cause corneal abrasions that impact vision. Since telling kids not to touch their faces, in general, is easier said than done, you’ll want to teach hand hygiene. Using soap and water for at least two minutes is the recommended method, and it is usually accessible for most kids. You can also arm them with hand sanitizer if they’re a little older. FDA-approved brands like Purell are advisable, so long as kids don’t overuse them, either. 

Visit the eye doctor regularly

Often, people assume that health check-ups are saved for when something is already wrong. However, seeing a doctor regularly also serves as a means of prevention and early detection—both of which are critical for eye health. Since the prospect of seeing an eye doctor, with all their devices and exams, can be rather scary for children, it’s best to find ways to make it fun. One way is by gamifying the experience. Retailer LensCrafters offers a virtual Eye Odyssey. Powered by Roblox, this activity lets children digitally explore a real-life store with the aid of a friendly companion named Blinky. Through this, children are made familiar with the setting and tools, so they know what to expect. This includes kids glasses from brands like Ray-Ban and Sferoflex, which are among the best for young people. At the same time, the Odyssey includes 10 levels where kids can learn more about eye health in an interactive way that won’t feel too intimidating. By making the idea of eye checkups more interesting, kids are more likely to value them, ensuring they keep up the practice as they age.

Wear the right protective eyewear

Finally, many issues can be prevented by wearing the right eyewear, as these can prevent retinal degradation. For children, the first pair of protective eyewear they should have is sunnies. According to the trade organization Vision Council, children are often outdoors, making them vulnerable to the harsh sun. Over time, this can lead to overexposure to UV rays, which kids’ eyes also take a longer time filtering out. The best sunglasses for children are those that offer 100% UVA/UVB protection or those labeled with UV400 protection. This ensures they’re not just novelty shades and can actually prevent any UV from entering the eyes. Aside from this, try to look for sunglasses with wider frames for full coverage. Brands like Oakley, for instance, have a range of children’s sunnies that offer a wider field of vision and sun protection. Since kids might not always want to use their sunglasses, make the idea more appealing by letting them choose the style they want to wear. The more confident and comfortable they feel, the more motivated they’ll be to wear these regularly, even without you reminding them. 

Article written by Sophia Emma For Mad About Marriage