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World Sight Day, on October 10, 2024, focuses on inspiring young people to prioritize their eye health. Coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), it puts children at the forefront of its mission. As October is also National Blindness Awareness Month, this day raises awareness on visual impairment, while also teaching kids how to protect their vision.
IAPB campaigns worldwide to ensure that children not only understand the importance of regular eye exams, but also celebrates those who might have to wear glasses or contacts to achieve 20/20 eye sight.
Tips to Boost Kids’ Eye Health
It’s never too early to start taking care of our eyes. Encourage your children to take breaks from screen time, but when they are immersed in the iPad, teach them the 20-20-20 rule. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Set a timer if it helps!
Get them outside! Playing outdoors allows for lots of natural light exposure. Make sure they wear sunglasses on sunny days to protect their eyes from UV rays. And lastly, feeding them plenty of fruits, vegetables, and omega-3s will help support healthy vision. Promoting these habits helps maintain good eye health as they grow.
Eye Exams for Children
Annual eye exams are crucial for children to ensure their vision develops properly. Undetected issues can impact learning and overall development. That’s why the American Optometric Association recommends that children receive a comprehensive eye exam before starting kindergarten. Regular checkups help maintain clear vision and support academic success.
Each Performance Eyecare location is kid-friendly, ensuring children feel comfortable before, during, and after their eye exam. Our providers see children as young as three years old. We make the process fun and each of our young patients get to pick a toy from our treasure chest after their exam!
Kids’ Glasses & Corrective Treatments
World Sight Day campaigns for kids to break free from the social stigma associated with wearing glasses or contact lenses. At Performance Eyecare, we offer a full line of children’s eyeglasses – making it fun for them to choose their perfect pair. Our care providers can fit contact lenses on children as young as seven or eight years old, answering any questions and easing any worries they might have.
Additionally, PEC is known for providing vision retainers, a revolutionary non-surgical procedure which gently and gradually reshapes the front surface of the cornea to eliminate or reduce nearsightedness or astigmatism. This is a good option for children comfortable with contact lenses – and they only have to be worn while asleep. Once your child awakes for the day, they’ll be able to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses! Use World Sight Day as a reminder to prioritize your child’s eye health by scheduling their next eye exam at Performance Eyecare.