With August being Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, we wanted to highlight some great ways to help protect the vision of children everywhere. Protecting eye health is really important for kids as they participate in school activities, sports, and social events in their community.
Preventing diabetes can also be helpful in protecting the vision of young kids, as diabetes complications can lead to diabetic eye disease later on. Being able to maintain healthy visions enables children to perform well academically, learn lessons easily and develop important motor skills as they grow.
Understanding Children’s Eye Problems
- Vision disorders can negatively impact a babies’ ability to bond with their parent/caregiver, their ability to explore the world by reaching and grasping, and also impede the development of fine and gross motor skills.
- One in every 4 school-age children and 1 in every 17 preschool-aged children have some form of vision problem requiring treatment.
- 24% of teens with correctable vision have the wrong prescription and this rises to about 33% for Mexican-American and African-American teens.
- 80% of all blindness and vision impairment is either preventable or treatable
As children grow, untreated eye diseases or conditions can become increasingly difficult to correct. Unfortunately, this can lead to more serious problems and affect a child’s ability to read, focus, pay attention in class, or even adjust socially with friends.
Some vision issues that commonly affect children include:
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism
Preventing Diabetic Eye Disease in Children
Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes is a growing problem among children. Approximately 30% of American children are overweight these days, which can lead to the development of diabetes at a young age. Diabetic eye disease is a complication of this disease that can severely impact healthy vision for people with diabetes. Thankfully parents can help their children make healthy lifestyle changes that can turn things around before it’s too late.
The early teenage years are a common time for kids to get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Puberty makes it harder for the teenage body to utilize insulin properly due to hormonal changes. This is especially true for girls going through puberty.
Additional risk factors for kids and diabetes include:
- Having family members with type 2 diabetes
- Having a birth mom with gestational diabetes
- Being African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
- Having conditions related to insulin resistance
Conclusion
If your child is overweight or has any of the above risk factors, it may be a good idea to get their blood sugar tested at the doctor’s office. Testing usually starts when a child is ten years old or when they hit puberty. It also tends to be repeated every three years.
Here are some tips for parents to help prevent diabetes and diabetic eye disease in their children:
- Drink more water and fewer sugary drinks.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Make favorite foods healthier.
- Get kids involved in making healthier meals.
- Eat slowly—it takes at least 20 minutes to start feeling full.
- Eat at the dinner table only, not in front of the TV or computer.
- Shop for food together.
- Shop on a full stomach so you’re not tempted to buy unhealthy food.
- Aim for your child to get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, in several 10- or 15-minute sessions or all at once.
- Start slow and build up.
- Keep it positive—focus on progress.
- Take parent and kid fitness classes together.
- Make physical activity more fun; try new things.
- Ask kids what activities they like best—everyone is different.
- Encourage kids to join a sports team.