VSP Vision Care, the nation’s largest not-for-profit vision care company, put together a list of tips and tricks for creating costumes that keep your eyes healthy. For example:
· Don’t dye eyebrows or eyelashes
· Don’t use non-FDA approved makeup
· Don’t wear decorative or “costume†contact lenses (which are illegal to sell)
You can find a complete guide to Halloween eye health by visiting SeeMuchMore.com in the “Learn about Your Eyes†section.
Parents wouldn’t dream of missing their child’s annual wellness exam with their pediatrician, however too many parents forget about a doctor’s appointment that is just as important: their child’s annual eye exam. I am so guilty of this myself. I keep saying each month that I am going to schedule the girls’ eye exam and it never gets accomplished. L was 20/30 a year and a half ago, so I really want to make it a priority to get her exam scheduled.
Did you know that close to ten million children in the U.S suffer from undetected vision problems that may cause them to fail in school? When I was in the 9th grade, I was having trouble seeing the board. I kept thinking if I moved closer to the board it would help. Of course, I was too embarrassed to tell my teachers. One day, low and behold, my mother took me to the optometrist for a pink-eye infection. During the appointment, my vision was checked. It was 20/200. It was no wonder, I was having a problem reading the board in the classroom. I never want my girls to go through the same experience.
Check out the three reasons why a comprehensive eye exam should top your back-to-school checklists this year:
1. One in four children has an undetected vision condition. Because eye health plays a major role in academic growth, it’s common for vision problems to be mistaken for a learning disability. Undetected vision conditions can negatively impact learning and contribute to frustrated students, poor grades and behavioral issues.
2. Comprehensive eye exams detect what school vision screenings cannot. Standard school screenings only test for visual acuity – which is not nearly the whole picture. Comprehensive eye exams test for visual acuity, color vision, eye alignment, eye health and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
3. Children’s eyes develop rapidly. A child’s eyes develop continually until about the age of seven – making early detection essential in correcting potentially permanent vision issues.
You can find additional resources and information by visiting SeeMuchMore.com.
Do not make the same mistake I did. Make it a priority.
Technology is surrounding us more and more every single day. Most kids received some type of technology gift for Christmas. I will go ahead and admit, my girls both got mini laptops for Christmas. Several kids got the new Kindle Fire, or an iPod touch, or even an iPad. Technology can rule your kid’s life if you do not set forth technology rules. It can also ruin your kid’s eye sight.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time for children and adolescents to two hours per day, recent studies are finding that children ages 8-18 are spending more than 7.5 hours a day consuming electronic media, from computers and smartphones to e-readers and tablets. How will this increased use impact our tech-savvy children’s eyes?
Digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome (CVS), is a term for any number of eye or vision- related problems that can occur from using a computer or digital device. Symptoms can include blurry vision, difficulty focusing, dry or irritated eyes, headaches and even neck and back pain. I know I can relate with several of these symptoms. My eyes can get so dry and I have to get up and leave the computer. Most of the time, I have to grab a wet washcloth in order to stop the burning. If this is happening to me, you know it can/will happen to your kids.
How can you prevent computer vision syndrome? VSP shares their tips.
Watch the time. The best way to avoid CVS is to take frequent breaks to refresh the eyes— follow the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, make sure your child takes a break to stare at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Also make sure to limit device usage to around two hours a day. This can be a challenge, but the average usage is almost four times that! For children two and under, avoid digital devices all together.
Create a kid-size work space. When working at adult desks, children sometimes have to crane their necks, look up at the screen or sit uncomfortably to do work. Avoid this issue and set up a small desk with an adjustable chair that provides good back support.
Keep the proper working distance. The distance between your child’s eyes and a screen should be approximately the distance between his or her elbow and knuckle. If your child is leaning too close to the computer screen or holding reading material close to his or her face, it could signal an underlying vision problem.
Schedule regular eye exams. Children’s vision changes often and it’s important that they have the best vision possible when using digital devices to help avoid CVS. This starts with a comprehensive examination by an eye doctor, not just a school screening. Children should have their first eye exam at six months of age, then at three years, before starting school and every year after that.
Go outside. Playing is healthy for the body and mind. Research also shows that two hours of outdoor play each day can help prevent nearsightedness. Of course, sunglasses are non- negotiable. Children have larger pupils and are susceptible to more UV damage than adults.
Let’s band together and help avoid Computer Vision Syndrome. Remember there still is life outside of technology. Kids do not need technology 24/7!
Thanks to Nathan Bonilla-Warford, O.D., F.A.A.O. for providing these awesome tips. He practices at Bright Eyes Family Vision Care in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Bonilla-Warford has lectured on visual care of children, the importance of vision in personal development, and options for controlling nearsightedness.
This is a question that has weighed on my mind for a while now. Recently, L has started having trouble seeing the bottom line of the eye chart when they tested her at the doctor’s office and at school. I have been questioning myself if I should seek an eye doctor’s second opinion or just wait till she is older to do a full eye exam. I was able to talk to VSP Provider, Dr. Bazan, to help answer this question.
Dr. Bazan alerted me that all kids after the age of 6 months, should receive an eye exam with an actual eye doctor. What is the reasoning behind this? There is way more in depth steps to an exam than just reading letters off of a chart. Optometrist’s need to see that a child’s eyes are healthy on the inside and out. Several different steps are used to ensure the eyes are healthy. Lights and lenses are used to see how the eyes are moving and the motions of the eye. A regular pediatrician is not able to do a full eye exam since they do not have the proper equipment in their office. Tests are completed to get a better number than just receiving a number if they cannot read a certain line off of the eye chart. After talking with Dr. Bazan, I went ahead and made the girls eye doctor appointments. There are diseases that can be caught early if seen annually by an optometrist.
I also asked about family history of eye sight. I have wore glasses since a teenager, so I always wonder if genetics have any pull with M and L’s eye sight. The old saying goes: “The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Family history definitely plays a role with eye sight and can also play a role in eye diseases.
What are signs that your child is having problems with their eye sight
Is the child too far from the object they are trying to focus on?
Is the child too close to an object?
Is the child straining to see?
Is the child avoiding certain activities?
These are all tell-tale signs that a child needs to be checked. As mentioned before, Dr. Bazan recommends an annual eye exam with all kids over the age of 6 months of age. 80% of learning comes from eyes. You want to know their eyes are healthy and be 100% sure. Make it an annual routine.
Dr. Bazan had a great recommendation for adults too that are always behind a screen while working. 20/20/20 Rule – Every 20 minutes, take 20 second break and look 20 feet .
Help other kids get the glasses and eye exams they need. It only takes a few seconds and will help Boys & Girls Club members in your local area and around the country. It is completely free to take and is as simple as these steps:
To take the free VSP Eye Pledge:
· Go to www.seemuchmore.com/eyepledge
· Pledge to take care of your eye health, which is an integral part of your overall health
· Share the Pledge with your friends and family so they can help out local children in need as well!
· Direct the donation to either the local club of your choice (by inserting your zip code) or the club in the U.S. with the most need
Take the pledge and then make your child’s eye exam appointment. You will be glad you did!
Disclosure: This post is part of an ambassadorship program with VSP. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
Thank you ALL for taking the pledge. Our winner is comment #23 – Nanette. Congratulations!
Did you know that one of the most important exams in a kids life doesn’t take place in school? The exam actually takes place in an optometrist’s office. Unfortunately, not every kid has access to this exam. Millions of kids go each year with vision problems that are undetected. This is not only sad, but it also causes learning problems with the kids. I can remember clearly when I was in school. I sat in the back of classroom and the words begin fading more and more each day. I was too embarrassed to say anything as we were not a rich family. My teacher finally asked me why I was squinting so much and sent a note home to my parents. Thankfully, I was able to get an exam and get the much needed eye glasses that I needed. My story though is not always the case for kids all across the U.S. We can work hard together and change that with the help of VSP Vision Care.
VSP, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits and services company in the United States, launched the Eye Pledge campaign to support and promote the importance of healthy vision. People nationwide are encouraged to give back by taking the Eye Pledge at www.SeeMuchMore.com and selecting either their local Boys & Girls Club or choosing to donate to a Club with the greatest need. For every Eye Pledge taken, a gift certificate, valid for a comprehensive eye exam and, if needed, a pair of glasses, will be donated by VSP.
To date, through VSP charity programs including VSP Mobile Eyes® and Sight for Students®, and through relationships with partners like BGCA, VSP has donated more than $138 million in free eye care and glasses to more than 715,000 children and adults. These services have resulted in the early detection of nearly 2,000 chronic health and eye diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and cataracts in children across the country.
Will you take the pledge with me? Let’s help kids get the eye exams and glasses that they need. You never know when we can be saving a child’s eye sight too.
WIN! VSP Vision Care is offering one of my readers who take the pledge a $200 Visa Gift Card.
To Enter:
2. Leave a comment letting us know you took the pledge and why eye health matters so much to you?
Extra Entries:
Tweet about this Giveaway.
I took the pledge with @vspvisioncare & @onemomsworld to help at-risk kids receive an eye exam & glasses. Will you too? http://ow.ly/6BlsB
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Make sure to leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
Contest Ends October 1, 2011 at 11:59pm ET.
Disclosure: I am an Ambassador with VSP Vision Care. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
