Healthy eyesight is as important as proper nutrition for a toddler. However, it can be exceptionally challenging to determine if your toddler is experiencing vision problems, as deciphering the signs of any ailment in a small child can be tricky simply because they are not yet able to verbalize their symptoms. What’s more, if your toddler is experiencing minor vision problems, they will likely be unaware that they have a complaint at all, as blurry sight might be all they know.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your toddlers’ eyesight and detect any potential problems before they spiral into more severe vision issues later on. These expert tips will help you keep your toddlers’ sight in ideal health.
Regular Eye Doctor Visits
It is recommended to take your little one for their first eye test at six months. After that, you should ensure your child visits the eye doctor twice yearly until they reach the age of three. This will help diagnose eyesight problems early. If your little one needs toddler glasses, an early prescription can ensure vision degradation is avoided. What’s more, prescription lenses and prescribed vision exercises can also treat specific conditions. Therefore, if you detect specific conditions early, your child might not need to wear prescription lenses for the rest of their life as their vision can improve.
Consider Your Family History
Most eyesight problems are genetic, so you should be even more stringent with eye doctor visits if you have a family history of any eyesight conditions. Your eye doctor should also be aware of your family history as this knowledge will help detect the signs of problems as early as possible.
Make Use Of Protective Eyewear
Sunglasses are so much more than a mere fashion accessory to complete trendy outfits; your toddler will benefit from the protection that sunglasses can offer. When spending long periods outside in the sun, you should ensure your little one is wearing suitable protective eyewear. Sunglasses are just as important as sunscreen as exposure to sunlight can degrade vision over time.
Practice Vision Exercises
Vision exercises aren’t just for children and adults with vision problems as they can benefit everyone. Encouraging your little one to practice focusing on objects and performing other specialized vision exercises will help strengthen their eyesight and protect their vision from potential degradation over time. Lazy eye is a common eyesight condition that can easily be rectified with prescription lenses and vision exercises.
Keeping your toddler’s eyesight in good condition will benefit their quality of life dramatically. Not being able to see properly will hold them back from various milestones along their developmental journal. For example, your little one will fall behind in school if they cannot see properly as focus and concentration will be a struggle. They may not be able to learn to read as quickly as other children, and these delays can massively impact their self-confidence as they grow. Detecting eyesight problems as early as possible is the best approach to ensuring your little one has all the tools they need to succeed in school.
