Tips for Maintaining Healthy Vision in School

As the school bells ring and students prepare to embark on a new academic year, it’s essential to prioritize their overall well-being, including their eye health. Let’s dive in and learn about how students can protect their eyes and optimize their potential!

Attend regular eye exams

Regular eye exams are the foundation of healthy vision. They allow eye doctors to detect any potential eye conditions that may hinder a student’s visual abilities. Your child’s school may offer yearly eye checks, but it’s still important to schedule a comprehensive eye examination for your child before classes begin. In addition to checking eyes and updating prescriptions, we also screen for conditions like amblyopia or strabismus, which can lead to vision loss if untreated, as well as offer options for myopia control.

Regular comprehensive exams ensure that any vision issues are addressed and corrected as quickly as possible, enabling students to see clearly and focus on their studies.

Create an eye-friendly study environment

A well-lit study area can help reduce eye strain. Lighting also impacts focus, alertness, and mood. Natural light is often the best option, so position desks near windows whenever possible. When artificial lighting is necessary, opt for bright, nonglare bulbs to avoid eye fatigue.

Practice the 20-20-20 rule

With digital devices being used in many schools, extended screen time has become an integral part of students’ lives. However, excessive screen time can strain the eyes and cause discomfort. Encourage your child to follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes of screen time, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This simple practice allows the eyes to rest and refocus, reducing the risk of eye strain.

Optimize screen settings

Minimize eye fatigue by making some simple changes in your child’s screen settings. You can adjust the brightness level to match the surrounding lighting conditions and reduce blue light emission. Blue light filters or glasses with blue light blocking capabilities can also be beneficial, as well as using night mode on devices once the sun goes down if accessible. Limiting blue light toward bedtime can improve sleep. Encourage your child to maintain a reasonable distance from the screen, ensuring that it’s at eye level to avoid unnecessary neck and eye strain.

Encourage outdoor activities

Balance and reduce screen time by promoting outdoor activities for your child to enjoy. Spending time outdoors has many eye health benefits, including exposure to natural light, which helps regulate sleep patterns and may impact myopia progression. Encourage your child to participate in sports, play outdoor games, or simply spend time in nature. These activities benefit not only their eyes but also their overall well-being and mental health.

With students gearing up for another school year, maintaining healthy vision should be a top priority. Let’s empower our students to prioritize their eye health and set them up for success—inside and outside of the classroom!