Children need regular eye exams  
 

Of children between the ages of 5 and 12, one in four suffer from an undiagnosed vision problem that effects their educational performance. Because children often have no way of knowing if their vision is poor, it is much harder to detect the problem. It is recommended that all children have their eyes examined at age 4. If there is a family history of eye conditions, it is recommend that their eyes be examined by the age of three. Early detection is the key to good vision and vision problems often respond favorable during the growth and development of a child’s visual system.

  
     
  Signs that your child may have a vision problem:  
 
  • Squinting, rubbing or blinking the eyes a lot
  • Having trouble seeing the blackboard at school
  • Using a finger as a place mark when reading
  • Holding head at an awkward angle when reading
  • Closing or covering one eye to focus
  • Holding reading materials close to face
  • Having red or crusty eyes
  
     
  Adults need regular eye exams, too  
  Ideally, you should have your eyes examined every year. Routine eye exams can detect early signs of vision conditions, allowing for fast treatment of most problems. Eye exams can also reveal serious and often times, hidden medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, inflammations and infections. Back to Top  
     
  Computer use and your eyes  
  Many in our workforce spend the majority of their work day in front of a computer screen. And, nearly 90% of those working at a video display terminal experienced some form of vision problems as a result. Symptoms that are related to computer use are:  
     
 
  • Difficulty focusing after working at a computer
  • Eye strain or fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Dry, itchy and/or irritated eyes
There are also environmental factors that increase computer-related eye strain:
  • Bright lights in your peripheral vision can be distracting.
  • Reflected light on your computer screen can cause a glare, decreasing the contrast of the screen character.
 
     
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  Things to Avoid  
 

  • Don't wear contact lenses for extended periods of time or overnight as this leads to complication.

  • Don't rub eyes frequently as this can cause an eye infection as few of us bother to wash our hands before touching our eyes.

  • When you splash water do not do this furiously believing doing this will take away tiredness instead wash gently as splashing may hurtle the smallest dust particles or an allergen which may minutely damage the cornea.

  • Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs to wipe eyes, as they are more hygienic.

  • Don't sit near than 15 feet from the television and keep your book at least two feet away for stronger eye muscles.

 
     
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