Healthy Kids, Healthy Vision

Every Kid Healthy is a movement to make schools nationwide healthier places for America’s children. Research shows how important it is that children start young to begin learning the importance of good nutrition for overall health and quality of life.

The main focus of the Every Kid Healthy movement is combating childhood obesity and to promote healthy eating and regular physical activity starting at a young age.

Exercise and a healthy diet contribute to a child’s overall health, but there are other facets of childhood health that require paying attention to.

Vision plays a role in the life of a healthy kid.

One factor that contributes to a child’s healthy vision is the amount of time he or she spends looking at various screens.

Technology is a wonderful addition to our world, but kids should have their screen time monitored so they don’t develop eye strain or other vision impairment from mis-use of electronic devices such as tablets, smartphones or computers.

Another way to help protect your child’s healthy eyes is to ensure that he or she wears protective gear when playing sports or participating in extracurricular activities that might pose risks. Most accidents can be prevented with the appropriate planning and safety equipment.

A healthy, balanced diet also contributes to the health of a child’s eyes. Vitamins such as beta-carotene and other essential nutrients help create building blocks for children’s growth and development.

Feeding your kids healthy meals and providing healthy snack options can play a role in their vision health and overall wellness.

Being unhealthy poses various dangers on our vision, but it can be even more detrimental to children.

Children who are extremely overweight may be at risk of developing pseudotumor cerebri, a condition where fluid builds up around the brain. This causes pressure on the brain which can lead to severe headaches and impaired vision. Doctors look for pseudotumor cerebri by looking into the back of the eye for the presence of papilledema, which are swollen optic nerves.

Children who aren’t at a healthy weight are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Diabetes causes diabetic retinopathy, which is damage to the small blood vessels in the retina (the back of the eye). Diabetes also leads to cataracts and glaucoma, among other eye problems.

It’s important to encourage healthy habits in our children for the health of their whole body, including their eyes.

Eye health is crucial to your overall well-being no matter what age you are. If you are having issues with your eyes or vision and would like a trusted expert opinion, one of our trained physicians would be happy to consult with you.

To learn more about San Diego’s leading optometry provider, Spektacles Optometry and Eyewear, visit us online at https://www.spektaclessandiego.com or give us a call at 760-452-2895.

[image via flickr creative commons license by peasap (contact)]