Fall is a time of change for both the weather and our seasonal allergies. All of these adjustments can bring about new risks to your kids’ vision and eye health. To keep your children safe this fall, follow these seasonal tips.
Avoid Woodlands
If your kids suffer from fall allergies, it’s best to stay away from anything that could aggravate their condition, including plants, suggests WebMD. Although it’s impossible to avoid pollen entirely, keeping your kids away from problematic places — such as wooded areas — can be helpful.Â
Wash Hands Frequently
Children often touch their faces and eyes without a second thought. Encouraging them to wash their hands can reduce the spread of conjunctivitis and illnesses common during the fall, such as the flu.
Receive a Comprehensive Eye Exam
Although your kids may receive a vision screening test towards the beginning of the school year, such exams are not sufficient for determining your child’s eye health. Schedule an eye exam with your optometrist to ensure your kids are not suffering from any eye problems that could hinder their school performance.
Use Eye Protection
According to Superior Vision, kids need to wear eye protection, not just when playing fall sports, but also during other activities, such as cleaning the house, yard chores and playing outdoors.
Never Look at the Sun
Educate your children on the dangers of gazing directly into the sun. Even looking at the sun on an overcast fall day can cause temporary or permanent vision loss.
Wear Sunglasses
Although the sun is less intense during the fall than in the summer, UV rays can still damage your children’s eyes all year round. Ensure your kids are wearing good quality sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. According to The Huffington Post, wraparound styles are the best as they block light from entering around the sides of sunglasses.
Check out Real Kids’ stylish collection of polarized sunglasses to protect your kids eyes from the sun this fall.