Adults are not the only ones who should make their eye health a top priority. It is also important for kids to take good care of their eyes. Vision problems can make it more difficult for children to concentrate in school, negatively affecting their grades.

Here are a few pediatric eye care tips to follow.

Promote Good Eye Care Habits

Your child is never too young to learn proper eye care habits. Start by teaching your child to avoid rubbing their eyes, as that can cause irritation and infection. You should also encourage your child to wear sunglasses outdoors and protective eyewear while playing sports.

Feed Your Child a Nutritious Diet

Encouraging your child to eat healthily will benefit many parts of their body, including the eyes. Nutritious foods can help your child maintain good vision and reduce the risk of certain eye diseases. Make sure to feed your child foods that are high in vitamin C, zinc, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Examples of eye-friendly foods include salmon, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and carrots.

Limit Screen Time

Many kids these days spend a large part of their day glued to digital devices. Unfortunately, this can lead to eyestrain, blurry vision, and trouble concentrating. To protect your child's vision, try to restrict their screen time during the day. For example, don't allow your child to use digital devices right before bedtime. 

Pay Attention to Symptoms of Vision Problems

Children might not be able to tell if there is anything wrong with their vision. As such, you should be on the lookout for warning signs of vision problems. For example, if your child is squinting often or sitting closer to the television, you should make an appointment with an eye doctor promptly.

Take Your Child to the Eye Doctor Regularly

Even if your child is not displaying signs of vision trouble, you should still schedule regular visits to the optometrist. During an annual eye exam, an optometrist will check for early signs of vision problems that you might have missed. If the eye doctor detects a vision problem, they can determine the appropriate treatment right away.

If you follow these helpful tips, you can keep your child's vision in good shape. If it has been more than a year since your child's last eye exam, you should schedule one as soon as possible with a pediatric optometrist. An optometrist can give you additional eye care tips.