Have you given much thought on how to keep your kids’ eyes healthy? When was the last time you have taken them to see an optometrist? Or perhaps they’ve never gone?
I had the chance to interview Dr. Dien-Fong, an optometrist from Edmonton, Alberta on how to keep kid’s eyes healthy. Let’s see how she helped our family and the advice she offers about eye health.
For about 6 months, I struggled to get my 4-year-old to learn her letters and numbers. Her attention span was short as she lacked the patience to sit and learn. I started to get worried. We then happened to take her in for her regular eye check-up with our optometrist. I was shocked to find out that my daughter needed glasses! Her poor vision explained a lot about her behaviours.
I was heartbroken to see that she had been struggling with her vision and heartbroken to know that she will need to wear glasses for the rest of her life. Our optometrist Dr. Julie Dien-Fong (who happens to my wonderful sister), guided our family through this new experience and she provided us with lots of answers and education!
I wear glasses myself, but I felt I had a lot to learn about eye health and glasses for kids. If I didn’t know this information – then there are probably a lot of parents who don’t either! I decided to interview Dr. Dien-Fong to give parents tips on how to keep kids’ eyes healthy.
Dr. Dien-Fong is an optometrist and is an owner at The Vision Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta. She runs a full clinic with an amazing team. Dr. Dien-Fong graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 2007 on the Dean’s Honours List. She is a mother of 3 kids and understands what it’s like to keep her kids’ eyes healthy!
Let’s meet Dr. Dien – Fong and hear what she has to say about eye health for kids.
When is the best time to get an eye check-up for kids?
If your child is older than 6 months and has never visited an optometrist before, it’s time to get one now. Children’s eyes can be checked as early as 6 months of age – you absolutely do not have to wait until they know the alphabet.
The Canadian Association Optometry has recommendations on when and how often kids should have eye examinations:
Infants and Toddlers (Birth to 24 months) | Infants and toddlers should undergo their first eye examination between the ages of 6 and 9 months |
Preschool Children (2 to 5 years) | Preschool children should undergo at least one eye examination between the ages of 2 and 5 years |
School Age Children (6 to 19 years) | School children aged 6 to 19 years should undergo an eye examination annually |
What do you suggest to make a successful trip to the eye doctors?
Avoid visiting the optometrist after a recent traumatic medical appointment and definitely not within a week after vaccinations. Children are less likely to cooperate after a bad medical experience. Eye exams can be quite personal, as the optometrist needs to get up close to do a thorough examination. For babies, book appointments during their typical waking hours – avoid nap times or feeding times.
For older kids, explain to them that an eye exam is not a “test”. It’s not about passing for failing. Some kids are worried about failing the eye exam (scared of getting the wrong answer) and thus it makes it difficult to properly assess how well they see. We encourage kids to try their best and an eye check-up is checking to see if their eyes are healthy. Allow your child to answer the questions and interact with the doctor independently. Avoid helping your child read the letters on the chart.
What do you recommend to keep kids’ eyes healthy?
Encourage your kids to eat a well-balanced diet and choose bright-coloured fruits and vegetables such as spinach, orange peppers, carrots, kale, berries, kiwis, fish and legumes more often. Remember to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated!
Recent studies show that kids who spend more time outdoors are less likely to need glasses at an earlier age. So send them out to play! However, remember to get them to wear hats and sunglasses to block those harmful UV sun rays.
What are some common signs of possible eye issues in kids?
Generally, watch for any abnormal behaviour such as squinting to see objects at a distance, always rubbing one eye, or winking one eye when watching TV or if they have frequent headaches. Older kids may complain of headaches after doing vision-related activities such as reading, screen time or generally after school. If you notice their eyes are “crossed” (in or out) or where there are brief moments when both eyes don’t seem to look straight – it’s time to get an eye exam!
What are your thoughts on how much screen time is appropriate for kids?
Between the ages of 5 – 18 years old, kids should spend no more than 2 hours of “fun” screen time. It’s understandable that kids may require screen time for school work and thus you can’t really control the number of hours for this, but you can control the amount of fun screen time. Fun screen time includes watching TV, tablets, phones and computers. For ages 2-5 years old – no more than 1 hour of fun screen time a day and for 0-2 years old – no screen time is recommended.
When kids are using their screen time, encourage good screen time habits. So every 30 minutes take a short break. Look up from the screen or put the device down and go do something else. As for working distance – the farther away the better. Get the kids to place their tablets on the table and sit up. Use your screens in a well-lit room – don’t use electronics in the dark. I can send you the link to a great pamphlet on children’s vision and screen time.
(Here’s the link: “Children’s Vision and Screen Time” )
What is the best way to clean kids’ glasses?
I recommend daily maintenance by washing the glasses with mild soap and water and dry it with a clean cotton towel. If on the go use lens spray and lens cloth. You can wash the lens cloth in the washing machine, but don’t use fabric softener as it can leave a residue when you use the cloth. Never use paper towels, tissue or other paper products to wipe the lens as they will scratch the lens!
Thank you Dr. Dien-Fong! It was a pleasure learning about how to keep kids’ eyes healthy! You can follow her clinic @thevisiongallery on Instagram. If you have questions for Dr. Dien-Fong – feel free to ask them in the comment section below.
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Very, very nice and useful interview! Thank you for writing this post! I hope it will help many parents!
Thank you Sandra! I hope it will help many parents as well!