A Guide To Children\'s Vision Problems

A Guide To Children\'s Vision Problems Related Information:

Vision is arguably the most important of the five senses. It plays a crucial role throughout childhood and beyond. Yet many parents don't understand how vision helps their children develop appropriately. For example, for the first several months, a baby can focus only on objects up close. Those objects will be seen in high contrast colors only, such as black, white and red. Using the eyes as a team is a skill developed early in childhood. Parents, pediatricians and eye care practitioners must ensure that the eyes work together, not independently, during the early formative years. Otherwise a lifetime of poor vision or permanently lost vision may result.

Moving into the preschool and school-age years, parents face a new set of worries:

• Should your teen wear contact lenses?
• When should my child have his first eye exam?
• What if my child requires vision correction?
• Will his vision worsen over time, or improve?
• What type of eyeglasses should my child wear?
• What if he won't wear his glasses? Can he wear contact lenses?
• Will his vision problem affect his learning?
• Should I worry about how his computer use is affecting his eyes?

Parents of school-age children should stay informed about vision correction options, such as using contact lenses instead of glasses to control nearsightedness or proper eye protection for recreational play and sports. Ensuring that your children wear sunglasses is very important, too. (Check out the top five trends in children's sunglasses.)

This comprehensive section answers the above questions and many, many more. Consult your pediatrician and eye care practitioner with specific questions about your child's visual performance, prescription and vision needs. Informed parents working with a caring health-care provider give the best possible care to a child.

Did you know? Certain contact lenses may help slow the progression of nearsightedness in your children.

Adolescents are naturally great contact lens wearers if they accept the responsibility for them. They adapt well to wearing the lenses due to their flexible personalities. Kids also develop fewer complications than adults. Younger people usually heal faster and have stronger immune systems. Plus, children may follow the medical instructions better than adults, so they have fewer problems with over-wearing the lenses or not using the correct care solutions.

Keep in mind that switching your child from glasses to contact lenses does not have to be a permanent decision. If your child does not adapt well, or is not up to the responsibility of wearing and caring for contact lenses, your eye care practitioner will not hesitate to recommend glasses as a safer means for vision correction. You may speak to the eye care practitioner as well if you feel your child is not handling the switch well. Contact lenses can always be tried again at a later date.

Odds are, there's a pair of eyeglasses that both you and your child will love at the optical store. Today's styles feature durability and safety for your peace of mind, as well as designs that please your kids. Whether your child is interested in popular characters such as Harry Potter, SpongeBob and Barbie, to the classic eyeglasses that look just like their parent’s or older brother's and sister's, there is a wide range to choose from. Plastics in elongated rectangular shapes, small, retro-styled ovals, and even thin, clean titanium eyeglasses are all available for small customers today. The availability of these styles for kids has them yearning to wear glasses more than ever before.

Pop-culture icons, logos and cartoon characters are coming out of the television and into the dispensary with their own line of children's frames. No matter the style or brand, it is important for children to feel that they are a part of the frame selection process. Choosing an eyeglass frame they like goes a long way towards getting them to wear their glasses and take better care of them as well.

What About What You Want?

• Your child will be more likely to wear new glasses if he or she gets to help pick them out.
• Spring hinges can reduce your repair costs.
• Polycarbonate is a very safe lens material.

In addition, more and more manufacturers of eyeglass frames and lenses, as well as the optical shops themselves, are offering extended warranties on children's eyeglasses so that parents can feel more at ease in making this purchase.

Polycarbonate lenses have also made a great impact in children's eyewear. Today, most kids' frames are sold complete with these impact-resistant lenses. You will appreciate the durability of spring hinges, flexible materials, strong frame materials and polycarbonate lenses available in kid's frames today. Children will appreciate not getting in trouble for breaking another pair of glasses.