Why Children's Vision Health Matters: World Sight Day

Dr.Prashaant Chaudhry, 3 mins read

World Sight Day is celebrated on the second Thursday of October every year. It is an international campaign designed to promote awareness about vision impairment and blindness, promote eye care and protect vision health.

The day also aimed at embracing the right of people to eye health worldwide to improve their living conditions. This year’s theme, “Children, love your eyes,” emphasises the importance of protecting and caring for children’s vision.

As the foundation of future generations, their eye health is crucial for their development, education, and overall well-being. In this guide, we will explore the common paediatric eye problems and the importance of regular eye checkups for children.

Why is it challenging to identify eye problems in preschool-age children?
This is due to their:

• Limited communication skills
• Inability to articulate vision difficulties
• Lack of understanding about normal vision

Common Eye Problems in Children

• Lazy eye (Amblyopia): A vision disorder wherein one or both eyes fail to develop proper vision due to abnormal vision development early in life.
• Strabismus (Crossed eyes): A condition in which the eyes don’t align properly with each other and they point in different directions.
• Refractive errors: Nearsightedness (Myopia), farsightedness (Hyperopia), and astigmatism (blurred or distorted vision at any distance).
• Convergence insufficiency: Another vision disorder wherein eyes don’t turn inward enough for near vision activities like reading.

Importance of Regular Eye Checkups for Preschoolers

• Early detection of vision problems: Vision problems like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism develop gradually. Routine eye checkups can help identify these conditions early on, which can further help in their prompt treatment.
• Address learning disabilities: A good vision is crucial for preschoolers to develop skills like reading, writing, and recognizing shapes and colours. However, in many cases, vision problems are mistaken for learning disabilities. Thus, it’s important to consult a reputed paediatric ophthalmologist periodically to clarify the issue and take appropriate action.
• Boost academic performance: Good vision helps children better concentrate and engage in classroom and other activities that aid in their performance enhancement. Regular eye checkups help monitor any vision changes in your children, which can help you make informed treatment decisions.
• Reduce eye strain: The increased use of social media and digital learning in children raises the risk of eye strain. Regular eye checkups help assess this problem and recommend management strategies, such as the 20-20-20 rule. This rule means that after every 20 minutes, look away from the screen and focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Foster healthy habits: Regular eye checkups instil lifelong habits that promote eye health awareness in children

When to get your child’s eye checked?

The first eye checkup should be considered after six months of birth. Thereafter, the checkup is recommended before the child starts formal schooling. During school years, an eye examination should be considered every two years. In case there are any refractive errors (glass power) or other vision problems, they may need frequent or yearly visits to an ophthalmologist based on the severity of the issue or as per the doctor’s recommendation.

At Aakash Healthcare, we have a specialised team of paediatric ophthalmologists who are trained and experienced in treating a range of paediatric eye problems. Book your appointment today!