The 3 things you should know about your child’s eyes this summer

As the weather warms up and school is out, the kids want to get outside and play. I’m a mom as well as an eye doctor and I was thinking to myself “What should I know before I let my son out to play in the backyard?” Well, there are three important things to consider this summer.

Sun protection is at least as important for your child’s eyes as it is for his skin. We’ve all heard about UV protection, but what does that really mean? UV stands for Ultra-Violet light, and is a component of the sun’s rays that can cause sunburns. UV is present even on cloudy days. Short term effects of UV on the eyes can include a sunburn to the eyes, called photo-keratitis. This can be uncomfortable, but rarely causes lasting damage to the structures of the eyes. UV light exposure over the course of a lifetime can increase the risk of cataract formation and macular degeneration. At this point, you may be asking yourself “What can I do to protect my child’s eyes from UV exposure?” There are two very easy things that can limit the amount of UV light getting to your child’s eyes. First, a good pair of sunglasses is the best form of protection. The lenses should be free of scratches or smudges, and should block both UV-A and UV-B. Also, a hat is a great way to protect your child’s eyes and his face too. Make sure that the brim is nice and wide, some hats even offer protection for the ears and back of the neck. Some children don’t like the feel of sunglasses on their face, so make sure they have their hat on whenever they are going outside.

Swimming is a favorite summer pastime, but the chemicals in the pool can be irritating to the eyes. Goggles are one of the easiest ways to prevent chemicals from getting into your child’s eyes, plus your child can safely and easily open her eyes and see under water. They are available with prescription if needed. The easiest way to fit goggles is for a parent to put the goggles on themselves and loosely adjust them to fit their own head. Once that is done, then the child can put them on. First fit the eye pieces over the eyes so that they fit snugly, but aren’t too tight, then bring the strap over the back of the head and tighten to fit snugly. A fun way to get your child used to wearing the goggles is to practice in the bathtub before going in the pool. If your child forgets their goggles, and their eyes appear irritated, you can rinse them right away with saline solution. If your child experiences any discharge or light sensitivity, or their eyes remain irritated, you should have your child see an eye care professional right away.

Eye Exams can easily be done during the summer months. Not only do most children have more free time during the summer, your child will have the best possible vision when starting school again in the fall. A lot of parents ask me “When should my child get their first eye exam?” Surprisingly to a lot of parents, the first eye exam is recommended at 6 months old! Checking your baby’s ocular health and vision, as well as eye alignment and movement is very important at such an early age for several reasons. First, unequal prescriptions in each eye or improper eye alignment can cause amblyopia. Amblyopia is a condition where the brain ignores one eye due to blurry or double vision. Fortunately, this condition is preventable if it is caught early enough, normally before 1 year old. During the eye exam we also look for a very rare cancer of the eye that normally occurs before age 2. This cancer is treatable if caught early enough, but has the potential to be fatal if left undetected. The good news is that this eye exam is part of a nation-wide program called InfantSee, and is available at no cost to any child between the ages of 6 and 12 months.

Children should have their eyes examined again at age 3 and age 5, or as recommended by your child’s eye doctor. If you or your child’s pediatrician suspects a problem, then you should have your child’s eyes checked right away by an eye care professional.

At Shoreline Optometry we strive to provide you and your loved ones with the best vision and eye care as possible. We wish you a safe and healthy summer enjoying the outdoors with your friends and family.