Whether your child will be going back to classes in person, staying home this fall, or a little of both, their eyesight is important to their overall health and learning. Poor vision can harm your child’s education because their eyes are constantly used for visual learning activities such as reading, writing, and using computers. Be sure to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Longe Optical for your child at the start of the year to ensure they are seeing clearly and can learn their best!
- Screenings aren’t everything
A basic screening that your child might have done at school, while helpful with detecting vision issues, doesn’t capture the overall health of eyes. Only a comprehensive eye exam like the ClearVu Experience we offer here at Longe Optical can truly give you the big picture of your eyesight. Vision screenings in school and at a pediatrician’s office usually only test a child’s distance vision. Most learning is done through reading which is closer than 20 feet.
- Know your family’s eye history
Knowledge of past and present family eye disorders can help save your vision. If age-related macular degeneration (AMD) runs in your family, you’ll have a greater chance of developing it. Telling your optometrist the types of eye diseases that run in your family can help them give you accurate recommendations for eye screenings. The earlier an eye disease is caught, the better chances you may have of saving your vision. This is why annual comprehensive eye exams are important!
- Wear Sunglasses on cloudy days
Making sure your children have proper eyewear even if it’s cloudy outside is important! Your eyes are exposed to UV light even on cloudy days and during every season of the year. Cataracts, other growths, and various cancers are directly related to UV exposure. Make sure your sunglasses offer 100% UV protection. Just because a pair of sunglasses says it offers “UV protection” doesn’t mean it is protecting against all kinds of UV.
- Healthy diet and exercise
Nothing can replace a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Eating properly is good for your body, and that goes for your eyes, too! Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin help prevent cataracts, such as spinach, kale, and broccoli. Lutein also stimulates the growth of pigments that block out harmful UV rays. Antioxidants improve protection against sun damage. Carrots, blueberries, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes are a few excellent sources of antioxidants. Exercise is vital to healthy vision as it helps prevent high blood pressure which can damage vision and even lead to blindness.
For more information about what to include in a healthy diet and lifestyle, ask your optometrist or doctor! You can click here to learn more about our exclusive ClearVu Experience and when you’re ready to schedule your family’s yearly eye exams, visit us here or give us a call at (260) 469-3937.
If you’ve recently had exams but are ready for a fresh pair of specs, just stop in at any of our five Fort Wayne locations with your prescription.
We look forward to helping you and your family out this school year!
uent exposure to chlorine negatively affects the integrity of your corneal epithelium — the tissue on the front of the cornea that prevents bacteria from entering into the eye. If you’re going to be at the pool throughout the summer, make sure you put on goggles before diving in!
Even if you wear sunglasses when outside, you are not getting all the ultraviolet protection that you can. Sunglasses usually have gaps along the sides where UVR exposure can occur. By wearing a hat with a brim, you can add additional shade that helps keep harmful rays out of your eyes.
With warmer temperatures come more outside activities and more opportunities for allergies or temporary exposure to eye irritants. Having eye drops on hand can help alleviate symptoms before the irritation increases.
Summer dehydration makes it harder for the body to produce tears, leading to dry eye symptoms and other vision problems. Drinking enough water each day can reverse the effects of dehydration as well as make sure you have enough fluid for normal eye function.
With more daylight during the summer, many of us find ourselves staying out — and staying up — longer. But did you know that being tired actually decreases your visual cognition? A 2008 study found that people who have been awake for as little as 18 hours start to suffer from decreased cognition, which can impact everything from their driving to simple activities like cooking and caring for children. Also, when you’re tired, your eyes are more likely to feel dry. This leads you to rub your eyes, which can increase exposure to irritants and diseases. Hit that pillow this summer, and keep your eyes fresh!
