Although school may not look the same this year, it is still important to schedule well-child visits for your children. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and we want to ensure that your child’s eyes are going to be in perfect condition this year for all the zoom calls and online learning they will be doing.

The best way to stay up to date with your child’s eye exam, is to schedule them the same time as their well-visits. Your child’s eye doctor can help detect refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism as well as the following diseases:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid)
• Color deficiency (color blindness)

It’s always good to pay attention to the way your child sees things; for example when they are watching TV, on the computer or playing sports. There are some warning signs that may indicate that your child has a vision problem. Some of these include:

• Wandering or crossed eyes.
• A family history of childhood vision problems.
• Disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects.
• Squinting or turning the head in an unusual manner while watching television.

Computer screens can be harmful to the child’s eye, so be sure to ask your child’s eye doctor how much time is too much time on the computer. There may also be suitable eyewear for your child to prevent eye straining, while they are on the computer. Some signs to watch for:

• Burning, itchy or tired eyes.
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Head and neck pain

Help your children have a successful school year and take the safety measures to ensure their eyes are free from injury. Schedule your child’s comprehensive eye exam today, by calling or texting us at 509-488-5256.