Safeguarding Children Eyesight
As a parent, you do everything you can to set your child up for a healthy future. But did you know vision plays a crucial role in your child’s physical, cognitive, and social development? Protecting your child’s eyesight should be a top priority.
This guide shares tips from Dr. Aurag Agarwal, an Child Eye Specialist in Goregaon Mumbaito foster lifelong healthy vision for children.
Developing Vision in Early Childhood
Vision begins forming as early as a few weeks old. From birth until age 7, rapid visual development occurs. Clarity, tracking ability, eye-hand coordination, and depth perception improve dramatically during the critical early childhood years.
That’s why routine visits with an ophthalmologist trained in children’s vision help ensure your child’s eyes grow properly. We screen for issues like lazy eyes, misaligned eyes, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Early detection allows correction before vision problems impact learning or development.
The Significance of Limiting Devices for Children Below 5
The delicate phase of a child’s visual development demands special consideration. During the early years, especially below the age of 5, a child’s cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, is still in the crucial stages of development.
The excessive use of screens and devices during this critical period can potentially disrupt this natural process.
Why Careful Attention is Needed
Research indicates that prolonged exposure to screens, such as mobile phones, tablets, or computers, can strain young eyes and impact their developing vision. The high-intensity light emitted from screens might affect the cornea’s growth and development in these formative years.
Exploring Healthy Alternatives
Instead of prolonged screen time, encouraging activities that promote healthy vision development becomes imperative.
Engaging children in outdoor play, creative pursuits, interactive storytelling, or age-appropriate games not only diversifies their experiences but also contributes positively to their visual growth.
Nurturing Vision Holistically
Understanding the critical nature of a child’s visual development, it’s crucial to approach their screen exposure cautiously. Limiting screen time can aid in safeguarding their eye health, allowing their vision to develop naturally and healthily.
Lifestyle Tips to Nurture Healthy Eyes
You can optimize your young one’s eye health at home too with simple daily habits:
- Get Outside: Natural light stimulates the eyes’ focusing ability. Have your kids play outdoors for a few hours if possible.
- Improve Nutrition:Â Diets full of leafy green veggies like spinach provide vision-enhancing vitamins and antioxidants. Adding omega-3s like salmon also wards off dry eyes.
- Take Screen Breaks: Limit device use to 30 minutes per session. Frequent staring at phones and tablets can contribute to myopia. For children under 5 years old, it’s best to avoid screen time altogether since their corneas have not fully developed.
- Do Eye Exercises:Â Rolling eyes clockwise and counter-clockwise improves coordination and strength. So does focusing vision far away then close up.
Signs of Potential Vision Issues in Kids
Catching problems early when treatment is most effective requires vigilance. Warning signs suggesting a child’s vision needs further assessment include:
- Squinting, rubbing eyes frequently
- Sitting close to the TV or holding devices close to see
- Complaining of headaches, eye pain or double vision
- Closing or covering one eye
- Difficulty seeing board at school
If you observe any consistent eye abnormalities, schedule a comprehensive pediatric eye exam right away for proper care.
Have More Questions? Call Our Eye Help Line
As pediatric ophthalmologists in Mumbai, we’re happy to answer any other questions about your child’s vision health, and development. Call +91 9833 41-31-51 today to Book Appointment.
Caring for your child’s sight from infancy through the school years is vital for their overall growth and success.
Book Appointment with Child Eye Specialist in Mumbai - Dr Anurag S. Agarwal Eye Clinic
Contact Senior Eye Surgeon in Mumbai – Dr Anurag S. Agarwal. Dr Anurag Agarwal is available at 4 Hospitals in Mumbai Suburban.
- Apex Hospital – Borivali West
- Criticare Asia- Malad West
- Jain Hospital – Goregaon West
- Shree Sai Clinic – Goregaon West
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Book an Appointment for an eye checkup near the Mumbai clinic.
Eye Specialist in Mumbai
Dr Anurag S. Agarwal Eye Clinic
- Jain Hospital - Goregaon
- Apex Hospital - Borivali
- Criticare Asia - Malad
- Shree Sai Clinic - Goregaon