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Parents' Guide to Good Vision

Protecting a child's vision

Protecting a child's vision includes being aware of the signs that indicate an immediate problem as well as putting in place preventative measures.

Through regular eye examinations and by taking some simple preventative measures you are helping to protect your child from conditions that if undetected can lead to permanent vision impairment or blindness.

How to be a vision detective

An observant parent is often the first person to detect signs of a vision problem in a child. Things to watch for are listed below. Any one of these signs could indicate that the child is experiencing a vision problem.

VISION PROBLEM CHECKLIST

• One eye turns in or out while the other points straight ahead
• Eyes blink frequently
• Eyes frequently red
• Eyes water
• Eyes very sensitive to light
• Holds a book very close to read it
• Cannot concentrate for any length of time
• Loses place while reading
• Positions head strangely when reading
• Eyes screwed up while the child is watching television
• Does not recognise familiar people in the distance
• Leaves out or confuses words when reading
• Slow in learning to read
• Covers or closes one eye when reading
• Tilts head noticeably when looking at things
• Rubs eyes frequently
• Complains of blurred or double vision
• Complains of headaches
• Complains of eyes burning or itching

Hints for reading

• Read in a room with good and even lighting
• Do not lie on the floor and read
• After every few pages look about the room of into the distance.

Hints for computer and video game use

If a child uses a computer for more than two hours a day they are likely to experience eye strain with symptoms including blurred or double vision, loss of focus, burning or tired eyes, headaches or neck and shoulder pain. Tips on reducing eye strain caused by computers are below:

• Have even room lighting
• Minimise reflections from the monitor
• Take a break every few minutes and look around the room
• Physically stand upright every few minutes and look around the room
• For video games, sit as far back as the leads allow

Hints on avoiding UV damage

The sun's effects are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm-avoiding the sun between those times will reduce UV exposure

Sunglasses and Transitions(r) lenses (lenses that go dark in the sun and become clear again when you go indoors) will reduce the amount of UV reaching a student's eyes

A broad-brimmed hat will reduce the amount of UV reaching a child's eyes by half

Hints on watching television

• Have a small light on in the room when watching television-the room should not be totally dark
• Place the television so that there is no glare or reflection from lights or windows
• Frequently look away from the TV set-around the room
• Have the TV set approximately at or slightly below eye level.
• There are also other eye problems and diseases that have no obvious symptoms. Remember vision is a precious sense. Children need to have regular eye examinations.

The above information was largely produced by the Optometrist Association Australia.