#1 Rest your eyes
Taking regular breaks after every 30-40 minutes of reading, writing or playing computer games is recommended. Experts recommend that children should not engage with entertainment media for more than 1 hour per day1.

#2 Protect from sun damage
Invest in sun protection accessories such as sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) rays or hats to shield your child from the sun’s damaging rays. A hat or shade umbrella would be more ideal for babies as there’s a risk that they may damage their eyes accidentally with the sunglasses.

#3 Increase time spent outdoors
Studies have shown that outdoor activities delay the development of myopia2. Increasing time spent on outdoor activities like ball games, walks in the park or time at the beach promote physical fitness and improves hand-eye coordination for your child.

#4 Encourage intake of vegetables, fruits and fatty fish
Eating vegetables and fruits such as kale, collard greens, spinach, brussel sprouts, corn, avocado, pistachios, goji berries, orange peppers, kiwi, grapes, orange juice and zucchini have been found to have increased concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood and in the eyes3. Eating fatty fish like salmon, herring and tuna, is also beneficial to the development of eyes.

#5 Encourage healthy eyecare habits
Maintain healthy eye care habits such as providing adequate lighting when your child is reading or playing. Your child should be kept about 30-40cm away from the book, and about 50 cm away from the computer screen.

#6 Schedule regular eye check-up
Eye experts recommend vision screening for newborns during infancy (between six months to one year old), pre-schoolers and school-going children4. The earlier an eye problem is detected, the earlier the appropriate treatment should be recommended to ensure successful vision correction and to prevent eye problems from worsening.

Reference:
1 https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/pages/media-and-children.aspx
2 http://www.hpb.gov.sg/HOPPortal/health-article/190
3 http://blogs.webmd.com/food-and-nutrition/2012/08/vision-quest-keep-an-eye-or-two-out-for-these-foods.html
4 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/5/983.full.html

• 29
• 0