Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Children on August 1, 2025
As families prepare for another school year, August brings an important reminder about protecting your child’s vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has designated August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, emphasizing the critical importance of eye care during these formative years when vision continues to develop well into adolescence.
Whether your high school graduate is preparing for college life or your elementary student is starting a new grade, establishing comprehensive eye care practices now can prevent serious vision problems later. Keep reading to learn more about essential tips for Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.
Why Children’s Eye Health Matters
Children’s visual system continues developing until approximately age 18, making early detection and treatment of eye conditions crucial for preventing permanent vision loss. During these developmental years, undiagnosed and untreated eye problems can lead to irreversible complications that affect learning, career, sports, academic performance, and overall quality of life.
Tips for Protecting Your Child’s Eyes
While eye conditions and injuries in children are not completely preventable, simple steps can significantly lower their risk of developing long-term vision problems, such as:
Attending Comprehensive Eye Exams
Primary care providers, including family physicians and pediatricians, play a vital role in screening children for eye problems. However, it’s important to understand that basic vision screenings, while valuable, cannot replace comprehensive eye examinations performed by eye care specialists.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends comprehensive eye exams for children at specific intervals, with more frequent monitoring for those at higher risk of developing eye conditions.
Teaching Good Hygiene Practices
As children prepare for the return to classrooms and dormitories, pink eye awareness becomes particularly important. Viral or bacterial conjunctivitis infections spread rapidly in close-contact environments, such as schools and college dorms.
Pink eye symptoms include redness, itching, burning, excessive tearing, and discharge that may cause eyelids to stick together, especially upon waking. While viral pink eye typically resolves on its own within a week, bacterial conjunctivitis may require antibiotic treatment.
Prevention strategies include frequent handwashing, avoiding touching or rubbing eyes, not sharing personal items like towels or makeup, and staying home when symptoms are present to prevent spreading infection to others.
Sports and Recreation Safety
Eye injuries from sports activities are common among students participating in athletics. Surface scratches and orbital bone trauma frequently occur in higher-risk sports like baseball, basketball, and lacrosse.
Protective eyewear is essential for all sports participation. Regular prescription glasses and sunglasses do not provide adequate protection and can actually increase injury risk if they shatter upon impact.
Sport-specific protective eyewear made with polycarbonate lenses offers the best protection against eye injuries.
Staying Aware of Your Child’s Symptoms
Not all children can recognize or vocalize problems with their vision. You can ensure they’re seeing their best by looking for telltale signs of vision problems, such as frequent squinting, eye rubbing, headaches, or complaints about difficulty seeing the board at school.
Maintain regular communication with teachers about any vision-related concerns affecting academic performance.
When to Seek Professional Care
Certain signs warrant immediate attention from an eye care professional. The “RSVP” rule provides an easy way to remember when to seek care: redness, sensitivity to light, vision changes, and pain.
Other concerning symptoms include persistent eye discharge, sudden vision loss, seeing flashing lights or floating spots, eye injuries of any kind, and significant changes in pupil size or reaction to light.
If your child experiences any one of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist.
Protecting Your Child’s Vision for Life
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month serves as an essential reminder that vision care is an investment in your child’s future. The habits and practices established during childhood and adolescence create the foundation for lifelong eye health.
Don’t wait for vision problems to develop. Stay on top of your child’s eye health by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!
