Can My Child See the Blackboard?

Back-to-School Eye Care Tips from Lighthouse Guild

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, a national health observance during back-to-school season that highlights the importance of protecting children’s vision and eye health.

As you get your child geared up for the new school season, it’s a good time to add an eye exam to your checklist. Lighthouse Guild offers a few important tips to help safeguard your child’s eye health during back-to-school season and throughout the year.

Get regular vision screenings – “Vision health is one of the keys to success in school, and the most important thing you can do to protect your child’s vision is to make sure they get an eye exam,” says Dr. Laura Sperazza, Director of Vision Rehabilitation Services at Lighthouse Guild. “An eye health professional can determine if your child needs eyeglasses or contact lenses, or if there is a vision problem that requires further intervention.”

Eat Your Carrots – Encourage your child to eat a well-balanced diet loaded with different types of fruits and veggies, as well as fish.

Speak Up – Ask you child to let you know if they notice any vision changes. For instance, if their vision is blurry, they are squinting a lot, or their eyes start bothering them.

Wear Your Glasses – Help your child understand the importance of wearing their eyeglasses. If they are resistant because they believe glasses are unattractive, try pointing out sports figures and other well-known people who wear glasses. Talk with them about how to clean and store their glasses.

Rest Your Eyes – Looking continuously at a computer, phone or TV screen can tire eyes. Encourage your child to take a break from staring at the screen.

Wear Safety Gear – Make sure your child wears goggles or other types of protective eye wear while playing sports, using chemicals or tools for school projects, or engaging in other activities. Many eye injuries can be prevented with better safety habits.

About Lighthouse Guild

Lighthouse Guild provides exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals. We provide coordinated care for eye health, vision rehabilitation and behavioral health as well as related services. Our podcast series, “On Tech & Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts,” offers information and insights about technological innovations that are tearing down barriers for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Contact: Bryan Dotson, Manners Dotson Group 917-796-8632, bdotson@mannersdotson.com