August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Good vision and eye health are especially important for children’s development.

The start of school also means the start of autumn sports and other activities that can lead to eye injuries. 42,000 Americans suffer sports-related eye injuries every year, with children accounting for the majority of these cases.

What can you do to prevent this?

• All children should wear the recommended protective eyewear during sports or outdoor activities
• Children should only have access to age-appropriate toys and avoid toys with sharp or protruding parts
• Keep cleaning products and sprays out of the reach of children.
• Teach proper handling of toys such as darts, bows, arrows, and air/biological weapons, or discard them altogether

GCT also encourages including a comprehensive eye examination as part of your child’s preparation for school.

A pediatric optometrist can identify common refractive abnormalities:

• Myopia
• Farsightedness
• Astigmatism
• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Ptosis (drooping eyelids)
• Color deficiency (color blindness)