Did You Know?
10 million U.S. kids suffer from undiagnosed
vision problems that may cause failure in school.-National PTA
Kids get three times more sun exposure than adults do.-Clinical Pediatrics, 1991
Yet adults are twice as likely to choose UV-blocking lenses for themselves than for their kids.-Transitions Optical Survey, 2006
More than 40,000 sports-related eye injuries occur each year. 43% are to kids under age 15 and 90% of injuries are preventable. -Prevent Blindness America
Keeping their children healthy and safe is a big focus for parents, but many don’t understand the impact of vision and eye health on their children’s overall health and well-being.
Eighty percent of a child’s learning in the first 12 years comes through the eyes. This is why making sure they are seeing their best is critical for them to perform well in school. Miscorrected vision not only interferes with learning, it can lead to low self-esteem, as well as eye discomfort and headaches.
Outside the classroom, kids spend much more time out in the sun than their parents do. Unfortunately, their eyes are more susceptible than adult eyes to ultraviolet(UV) damage, which is irreversible and can cause serious eye diseases over time. Plus, glare from the sun can make it harder to see and cause as eyestrain and fatigue. On top of this, kids are more active than adults, so are more prone to eye trauma from play or sports.
Medications kids are taking can affect their vision as well. For example, steroidal agents (inhalers) can cause long-term effects such as cataract and glaucoma. Anti-histamines for allergies and medications for ADHD can cause excessive pupil dilation and light sensitivity, among other symptoms. Be sure to talk to your eyecare professional about the medications your child is taking.
Recommended Eyecare & Eyewear Options
The first key to healthy sight for kids is regular, comprehensive eye exams, which will not only allow for vision correction but also help detect eye and systemic diseases, including diabetes.
To protect young eyes from the sun, many eyecare professionals recommend photochromic coatings, such as Transitions® lenses, which minimize glare and block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays by turning from clear to sunglass-dark according to the intensity of UV rays. These are a great option for indoors and outdoors, especially when combined with an anti-reflective coating to further minimize glare from light reflections. You can learn more about Transitions lenses at www.transitions.com. Parents should also talk to their family eyecare professional to make sure their kids’ eyeglasses are made with an impact-resistant lens material – like polycarbonate – that meets stringent standards.
For an interactive source of eye health information for kids and parents, check out www.eyedidntknowthat.com.
Source: Transitions Optical