Children’s Eye Health And Safety Are Imperative For Socialization And Development 

Socialization is the process of preparing individuals to participate in a social group by teaching them the norms and expectations. It has three main objectives, which are to develop impulse control and a conscience, equip people with the necessary skills to perform specific social roles and nurture shared sources of meaning and value.

Deficient vision can have a detrimental impact on a child’s socialization development in several ways. Eye coordination, tracking, and focusing are crucial for activities such as reading and writing. Children who struggle with these visual skills may find it difficult to participate in such activities. The most common cause of vision loss in children is amblyopia, also known as “lazy eye,” which affects about 2% of children between the ages of 6 and 72 months. This vision disorder occurs when abnormal neural connections between the brain and eye develop during early childhood, resulting in impaired vision. If you notice any signs or behaviors in your child that suggest vision and learning problems, it is best to make an appointment with an eye specialist for further evaluation.

August 2023 marks Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, which is a critical time to consider the fact that many children are either returning to school or preparing to do so. As the new academic year begins, it’s essential to prioritize the well-being of children’s eyes. Having a clear vision is crucial for interactions with others, comprehending visual information, and gaining knowledge, especially during the first three years of school when reading is a vital skill. Parents are advised to schedule regular eye checkups with a professional to ensure that their child’s eye health is at its best.

What Parents and Educators Should Know

The American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO) suggests that parents, educators, and others should have a checklist consisting of the following before children start each school year,

• Preventative Eye Care list regarding eye diseases and their impact on eye health and vision
• Vision Screening should occur yearly or when there are signs of vision problems
• Pink Eye symptoms and potential issues, viral or bacterial pink eye (conjunctivitis) infections spread fast in classrooms
• The 20-minute eye rule, look away every 20 minutes
• Rules specific to blinking eyes when using digital devices
• Best practice to reduce glare on digital devices
• Best practices for brightness and contrast levels to maximize comfort when using digital devices

Things parents/teachers should do if a child has an eye injury:

• Scratched eye—If the cornea is only lightly scratched, it should heal without any issues. However, if it is deeply cut, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. In the case of your child, surgery will likely be necessary.
• Dust or sand in eyes—Encourage the child to blink several times. If that doesn’t provide relief, consider using a commercial eye wash to cleanse the affected eye.
• Chemical burn—If chemicals accidentally get into your child’s eye, it’s important to flush the affected eye with running water for 15 minutes. After doing so, seek immediate medical advice from a doctor.
• Cut eyelid—If there is a cut on the eyelid, it’s important to have it stitched by an eye doctor.
• Blood in the eye—If there is blood in the eye, it is important to seek medical attention immediately by going to the emergency room.
• Black eye—In most cases, black eyes do not require any treatment.

 

Things Parents And Educators Must Look Out For (Parenting.Kards4Kids)

The appearance of the eyes:

• One of the eyes may turn inward or outward, causing misalignment.
• If your eyelids are red, crusty, or swollen, it may be a sign of an eye infection or allergy. It’s important to seek medical advice to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
• One may experience redness or excessive watering in their eyes.

Behavior:

• Constantly rubbing eyes
• Cover or close one eye
• Tilting their head to the side or pushing it forward while watching TV, may be a sign of discomfort or strain.
• Sometimes hold their books either too close or too far away
• Often blinking
• They become irritable when they are compelled to do reading or other tasks that require close attention
• Squinting or frowning
• Lack of interest in reading or looking at faraway objects
• Wandering ete

Your child says(Parenting.Kars4kids):

• “My eyes itch”
• “My eyes are burning”
• “My eyes are on fire”
• “My eyes feel scratchy like something’s in them”
• “I can’t see that very well”

After Close Work

• “My head hurts”
• “I feel dizzy”
• “I feel sick in my stomach, nauseated”
• “Everything’s all blurry”
• “I’m seeing two of everything”

Ways to Protect Children’s Eyes