Children’s Eye Health & Safety

Vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-aged children.

Since vision problems can begin at an early age, it is very important that children receive proper eye care. Untreated problems can worsen and lead to permanent vision loss and delayed development.

Because it is possible for your child to have a serious vision problem without being aware of it, infants should be screened for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting at around 3 years of age for:

-Strabismus (crossed eyes)
-Amblyopia (lazy eye)
-Ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid)
-Refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism)

If there is a family history of vision problems or if your child appears to have any of the above conditions, speak to your Ophthalmologist promptly about when and how often your child’s eyes should be examined. Vision problems in children can be serious, but if caught in time and treated early, your child’s good vision can be protected.

Your child’s toys could present a hidden danger to his or her eyes, so make sure toys and gifts are appropriate for your child’s age and maturity level. Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.

Sports can also endanger your child’s eyes if he or she does not wear appropriate eye protection. Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries in children. To protect your child, make sure he or she wears appropriate eyewear with polycarbonate lenses or shields when playing on the field, in the yard or on the court.

A message from our Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Jeffrey H. Cohen, M.D.

“Any parent who thinks that their child may have a vision or eye problem should have their child’s eyes examined by their pediatrician, family physician or an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Remember, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent permanent vision loss.”