Vacations are around the corner! It’s time for pool parties, 4th July fireworks, picnic at the beach, etc. However, all these activities keep your kids outdoor for maximum time. Have you ever thought of children’s eye care to prevent them from the harmful effects of UV rays exposure? Eye care for kids is vital in summer to safeguard their precious eyes.
Summer eye care is all the more important if your little champ loves to play contact sports. These sports are risky as they can easily cause head and eye injuries resulting in the following repercussions:
- Light sensitivity
- Pain in the eyes and surrounding areas
- Double vision
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty in reading
- Headaches
Therefore, parents need to be extra careful regarding their kids' eyes during summertime. But How? Keep reading for some fantastic children’s eye care tips.
7 Eye Care Tips for Summer for Kids
Check out these 7 eye safety tips recommended by experts and eye doctors!
1. Sunglasses for UV Protection
The UV rays have adverse effects on the eyes as they have on the skin. Therefore your kids should never step out in the daytime without sunglasses. However, sunglasses of kids are generally not very effective. So look for the glares that protect 100% UV and UVB rays.
Buy sunglasses in cool colors that kids would want to wear so that you won't need to run after them to wear sunglasses. You can purchase special safety glasses for the sports time of your kids.
2. Sunscreen Around the Eyes
Sunscreen is not only crucial for skin but applying sunscreen is one of the critical eye safety tips as well. The skin around the eyes protects the eyes, but it is fragile and sensitive. Therefore it gets harmed easily by UV rays. Putting some extra sunscreen around their eyes when your kids are stepping out to play is a good idea.
3. Under The Hat
You can also offer them a cool hat to wear for extra protection from the sun. However, if kids don’t like their hats, it will be tough for you to keep them on their heads. Therefore select some wide-brimmed hats in their favourite colors and styles.
Wide-brimmed hats protect the entire face, so your kids get further sun protection. Buy appropriate helmets or headgear for them if they play contact sports.
4. Goggles in Water
Summer eye care is not only about UV rays! During summer, kids love to indulge in water activities in the sea, lack, or pool. The ocean's salty water carries microorganisms that can cause an eye infection. And the chlorinated pool water often leads to dry and irritating eyes. Therefore always make your kids wear goggles while doing water activities. Goggles also aid better vision underwater.
5. Games in Shade
No matter how much care you take for the eyes of your kids, you can’t completely protect them from UV raysat the peak of scorching summer. You can opt for shades with fans and coolers around your house or weekend home in such conditions. Arrange games for kids under the shade so that theycan be outside but not directly under the sun.
6. Food & Water for Eyes
Children’s eye care is not complete without a healthy diet. Encourage them to eat the following foods that are good for eye health:-
- For nutrients, antioxidants, & omega-3 – Green veggies, dark-colored berries, nuts, Salmon, & other types of fish.
- For vitamin A – Sweet potato, carrots, other bright yellow and orange vegetables.
- For vitamin C – Strawberries, orange, and mangoes.
Also, ask your kids to drink a lot of water and healthy drinks to prevent dehydration and dry eyes.
7. Regular Eye Check-ups
Keep regular eye check-ups of your kids in your list of priorities. An eye doctor can detect an underlying condition or common seasonal eye disorders like dry eyes through an eye exam. Any ailment detected early becomes easy to treat.Eye doctors can also recommend advanced eye safety tips to keep your kids’ eyes healthy in all seasons.
Author Bio:
Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visited during his travels.