Most of us rely on our eyes to make sense of the world around us, but we don’t often stop to think about our eye health and how it affects other areas of our lives.
Children’s eye health is especially important because impaired vision can impact their success in school. Poor vision can make it difficult to read, see the board, play sports or even pick up on social cues, such as facial expressions, that are important for building friendships.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children have their first eye exam between 6-12 months of age, another exam between 3-5 years and then annually between ages 6-17.
Signs of vision problems in children might include:
• Poor performance in school or after-school activities
• Problems focusing, reading or practicing eye-hand coordination
• Headaches
• Short attention span
• Frequent blinking
• Tilting the head to one side often
If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with an optometrist.
Vision to Learn Iowa is offering free eye exams and glasses for K-12 students at locations in West Des Moines, Urbandale and Pleasant Hill. Visit their website to schedule an appointment, or call 563-495-8691.
For adults, the AOA recommends routine eye exams every two years. Your doctor might recommend more frequent exams if you have certain health conditions.
Some general tips for maintaining healthy eyes include:
• Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB radiation from the sun.
• Wear protective eyewear when doing dangerous activities, such as home repairs and yard work.
• Prevent eye strain by following the 20-20-20 rule: look away from screens at something that’s at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
• Eat foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, as well as omega-3s, such as fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts and eggs.
Natalie Peters is the community health educator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
