Do This to Help Ensure Your Child's Long-Term Eye Health

As a parent, you’re committed to helping to keep your child as healthy as possible. That might mean encouraging them to eat healthy foods or supporting them in finding physical activity they enjoy. 

You’ll be more effective at protecting their long-term health when you focus on specific body parts, too. Your child’s eyes, for example, need some dedicated care to help them develop well and stay healthy. 

You don’t have to navigate this alone. As experts in children’s eye health, our team at Edwin Y. Endo, OD & Associates monitors your child’s eyes and implements steps to protect them. Visit us in Aiea, Hawaii, and Dr. Endo and our team come alongside you to support your goal of long-term eye health for your child. 

We tailor recommendations to your child, but all children’s eyes benefit from the following: 

1. Getting regular eye exams

Dr. Endo can recommend the right cadence for eye exams for your child based on their eyes, your family history of eye problems, and their age. Usually, this means a few visits to our office before first grade, then annual exams after that. 

That said, come visit us if you notice that your child might be having vision problems. Signs include:

• Squinting
• Tilting their head
• Sitting close to things they want to see
• Complaining of headaches or tired eyes

At your child’s eye exams, Dr. Endo evaluates their eye health and their vision. If they need eyeglasses or contact lenses, for example, our team can provide them so your child can see clearly and avoid straining their eyes. 

2. Eating a healthy diet

What your child eats can support long-term eye health. Fortunately, the diet most folks consider healthy — lots of produce, limited processed foods — helps to provide the nutrients eyes need. 

That said, some tailored direction can make this easier to navigate with your child. Our team specifically offers nutritional counseling for eye health, so we can help you here. 

3. Limiting screen time

Excess screen time strains your child’s eyes. This can lead to short-term issues like dryness, but it can also have lasting effects. Notably, too much screen time can contribute to nearsightedness. 

Encourage your to take a screen break every 20 minutes. Even a brief interlude to blink a lot and look at something off in the distance helps their eyes. 

Try to counter screen time with playtime outdoors. This type of play encourages your child’s eyes to focus on things that are farther away, helping to prevent nearsightedness. Also, researchers think that natural daylight plays a role in the healthy development of children’s eyes.

That said, when they’re outdoors, make sure your child wears a hat or sunglasses with UV protection to shield their eyes from the sun’s powerful rays. 

If you’re ready to schedule an eye exam, talk with our team about nutrition counseling for eye health, or work on ways to limit screen time, we’re here to help. Call us or book an appointment online today.