Children's Eye Health & Safety

The timing of Children’s Eye Health and Safety month conveniently coincides with going back to school and the beginning of other sport activities.

This is the time of year the Health Department school nurses are setting up vision screenings in the schools as an important part of preventative health.

One in twenty preschoolers suffer from vision problems that can make school difficult. Children often do not know they have a problem with vision because they assume everyone sees the way they do. Children with poor visual skills may struggle to read, have short attention spans, perform poorly in sports and develop low self esteem. Children with signs and symptoms of vision problems like reddened eyes, tearing eyes, unusual sensitivity to light, squinting, blurred vision or headaches, should be examined as soon as possible.

In addition to eye disorders, in 2002 more than 14,000 children age 14 and younger suffered sports related eye injuries. Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries in children. Protective eye wear protects many of these injuries and prevents many emergency room visits.

Polycarbonate lenses are usually the safest and most durable lens material. Glass lenses can shatter into dangerous pieces if struck by a flying object. Plastic lenses even with scratch coating are not as durable. If a child plays sports, “Rec Specs” are wonderful safety devices.

According to The Ohio State University Department of Ophthalmology, persons ages 20-40 years should have an eye exam every 5 years unless visual changes, pain, flashes of light, injury or tearing occurs; then immediate care is necessary. Persons 40-65 years of age should have an eye exam every 2-4 years and persons age 65 and over every 1-2 years.

Persons with diabetes are at risk for several eye disorders including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. These individuals should have yearly examinations.

African Americans are at greater risk for glaucoma and should have eye examinations every 3-5 years before the age of 40 and every 2 years after the age of 40.

The American Optometric Association recommends that children receive a professional eye and vision examination at what is called the critical stages in visual development. These stages are: by six months of age, at 3 years of age, before first grade and at least every 2 years until age 18.

A program called “ InfantSEE” co-sponsored by the American Optometric Association was launched to examine children’s eyes up to 12 months of age. Optometrists throughout the U.S. donate pediatric eye exams for a one time visit for free. The optometrist in Defiance for the “InfantSEE” program is Dr. Rachel Bostelman, located at 101 Clinton St, Suite 1000. She will take appointments for the one time visit free, not based on income or insurance. The number is 419-783-4831.

The Defiance County Health Department through the Lions Club in Defiance takes applications for those individuals who need assistance in obtaining an eye exam or glasses. An appointment can be scheduled by calling 419-784-3818.