Eye Care Tips for Kids in the Times of Pandemic

The world is slowly working its way out to resume functioning, despite the threat that the novel Coronavirus possesses for its human race. Medical experts and professionals are working day and night to develop a vaccine for the virus. Until it's available for the public, we need to keep our guards up for continued protection. Amidst the health crisis, both children and the aged are the most vulnerable and need extreme precautions to remain safe and sound. 

Cover the Vitals

As per the medical officials, the Coronavirus is a hazardous and contagious disease, which spreads through sneezes and coughs. The fluids that come out while sneezing and coughing bring out liquids that contain the virus. It's vital to remember that such fluids can enter your physiology through your vitals, namely your eyes, mouth, and nose.

Hence you must always keep your hands sanitized and cover your vitals whenever entering a public space or coming in contact with another individual. Furthermore, it would be best to keep your hands in check to reduce touching the eyes when itching. Additionally, the Covid-19 virus can also cause pink eye (conjunctivitis). While the chances are limited as per the general interest data, it's best to contact an eye specialist when struggling with symptoms.

Digital Strain

Almost all academic institutions and organizations have decided to shut their space in the wake of the global health crisis. While this has helped the kids to remain indoors to spend quality time with their parents, it has also meant that they are spending massive time on digital screens like television and computer screens. Even the mobile phone can keep them hooked for hours.

Such extended screen time can severely affect any child's eye health. The digital screens on mobile phones and computers emit lights that could hamper the vision if the prolonged exposure is carried on.

Dr. Rahil Chaudhary, of the Eye7 Eye Hospitals, recently stated that extended engagement on digital screens could directly lead the kids to eye-straining. This is entirely graspable if we take a moment to take about it. If you were asked to work in front of a computer screen for hours, you would eventually develop headaches, shoulder pains, and stiff necks without moving necessarily. Similarly, the eyes will also show some adverse effects such as blurred vision, discomfort, eyestrain, fatigue, and dryness.

The renowned eye specialist suggested that if people, both adults, and children, can make the slightest effort to take care of their eyes while engaging on digital platforms, they can avoid eye-straining. You must change your focus after every interval to see something at a distance, for that will help you ease your eyes, which were previously placed right on your screen.

Easy and Effective Tips

Moving fast forward, here are a few easy yet useful tips that will allow your kids to maintain good eye health.

• Stop Rubbing the Eyes

Almost all children have the uncanny habit of rubbing their eyes when there is an itch. Parents must prohibit that practice at the earliest. First of all, rubbing the eyes seldom reduce the itching.

More often than not, it increases instead. It's better to use water or clean clothes to sort out the itch. Secondly, if the hands are dirty, there are chances that the kid is deliberately putting elements like dirt, virus, and more directly into his eyes. Parents must teach their kids always to use water to wash their hands and eyes so that there is no danger to the vitals.

• Regular Check-up of Eyes

Not just the eyes, but the complete physical health of a child needs to be evaluated by a general physician (GP) at every interval. This is particularly important as the GP can record all the essential data related to the kid for future help. Furthermore, he can analyse and alert the parents if there is any abnormal physiology issue during the developmental phase.

It's suggested to visit an ophthalmologist once a year to get the kids' eyes checked. Additionally, if the child struggles for clean vision due to irritation or blurriness, the parents must immediately seek medical assistance.

• Use Sunglasses In Public

Admittedly, this tip is not relevant given the current health crisis. However, it still makes sense when children’s eye care is concerned. Now that the kids are all at home, they expect them to get bored within the house's boundaries. Hence they might decide to step out of the domestic threshold to play some outdoor sports.

While social distancing is severely suggested, a carefully structured playing condition might still fall short when it comes to their eye health. The UV lights, which are emitted from by the sun, can affect a kid's eyesight. Ensure they are wearing proper eye guard like sunglasses to fight the UV light when in the open.

Conclusion

Almost all digital gadgets today come with the option of screen brightness adjustment. While the adults use the feature to suit their comfort, children forget it every time. Hence, the parents must note the action and step in when their kids use extreme brightness devices. Additionally, maintaining a one hand distance from the gadget can also help the cause for kids.

Following the above-discussed tips can help parents in maintaining children’s eye care under the Covid-19 period.

 

Disclaimer: No Asian Age journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.