WC Iowa News

Crawford County Memorial Hospital recently issued the following announcement.

Along with school supply shopping and purchasing those back-to-school clothing items, it’s time to make a comprehensive eye exam appointment for the kids. Statistics show one out of 20 children between the ages of 3 and 5 has a serious eye problem that could result in permanent vision impairment if left untreated. Yet, 4 out of 5 preschoolers do not receive a routine eye screening.

A good rule of thumb is to have your children’s eyes examined during well-child visits with their pediatrician or health care provider, beginning at around age three. Your child’s eye doctor can help detect refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

If you or your doctor suspects that your child may have a vision problem, you can make an appointment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist for further testing.

SYMPTOMS OF EYE AND VISION PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN

A family history of childhood vision related problems is an early clue your child may require more frequent eye exams. Parents can also be on the lookout for the signs that indicate whether your child has any vision-related problems such as:

• Wandering or crossed eyes
• Lack of interest in reading or looking at distant objects
• Squinting or turning his/her head unusually while watching television
• Eyes are constantly watering or tearing
• The eyelids are swollen or bloodshot
• The child is blinking more than usual
• The child is complaining of blurry vision; eyes are itchy or burning
• Feel dizzy or ill after doing some close-up vision related activity

Good eyesight and eye health are especially important for the development of young children. Staying on top of vision concerns is a priority for parents because it’s not always possible for children to realize when their eyes are not healthy.

PROTECT YOUR CHILD’S EYES

Eye injuries are the leading cause of vision loss in children. There are about 42,000 sports-related eye injuries every year in America, and children suffer most of these injuries. Here are a few basic rules of safety:

• All children should wear protective eyewear while participating in sports or recreational activities
• Purchase age-appropriate toys for your children and avoid toys with sharp or protruding parts
• Teach the proper handling of, or altogether avoid, projectile toys like darts, bows and arrows, or airsoft/BB guns.
• Keep cleaning supplies and sprays out of the reach of children.

Regardless of how a resurgence of the COVID-19 delta variant affects the upcoming school year and sports season, now is the perfect time to tackle your kiddo’s eye health. And who knows, “really cool glasses” might end up being your kid’s favorite item on their back-to-school shopping list!

For more information and a preliminary eye exam, contact your pediatrician. If you do not have a pediatrician, contact Dr. Libby Ranniger, a Board-certified pediatrician, at CCMH Medical Clinic at 712-265-2700.

Original source can be found here.