Easy Ways To Keep Your Teenager's Eyes Healthy

During the teenage years, eye health is likely one of the last things on your child's mind. However, the manner in which your child cares for their eyes during these years can have an effect on the health of their eyes for many years to come. Make sure you know what positive practices and tips to suggest to your child to keep their eye health in great condition.

Study Tips

Between chemistry tests, college entrance exams and essays, the high school years come along with a lot of schoolwork. This also often means more study time. It's important to ensure your child understands the importance of studying safety. First, make sure you provide a study space with ample lighting. Reading or writing in a dimly lit area will cause their eyes to strain.

If your teenager uses the computer often, you also want to make sure you tell your child to take frequent breaks using the 20-20-20 rule. This rule basically says that every 20 minutes, you should rest your eyes by focusing on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Practicing this will also help avoid eye strain, headaches and dry eyes.

Healthy Eating

It's also important to encourage your child to eat better to protect their eye health. Eating foods great for eye health can help limit their risk for cataracts and other macular degeneration diseases as they age. Foods rich in vitamin E and C, zinc and lutein are a great place to begin.

Salmon, leafy greens, beans and citrus juices and fruits are all considered great foods to incorporate into their diet. A healthy diet can also help prevent obesity related conditions like diabetes, which can cause blindness when left untreated.

Sunglasses

The teenage years are all about being stylish and fashionable. Make sure these are not the only factors your teen is considering when choosing sunglasses. Make sure your child is choosing sunglasses that offer at least 99% protection from UVB and UVA rays.  Increased sun exposure increases your risk of cancer and cataracts.

You also want to ensure they are wearing glasses that cover their entire eyes. Glasses with small lenses can leave areas of their eyes unprotected and vulnerable to the sun.

As a parent, instilling helpful information into your child is your responsibility. Make sure you are equipping your teen with the right tips to keep their eyes healthy.

For more information, contact an ophthalmologist like Advanced Retinal Institute Inc.