May is Healthy Vision Month!

Parents and guardians have ongoing opportunities to monitor and protect their children’s vision and eye health.  One way to promote vision and eye health is to ensure children attend appointments with their healthcare providers and/or vision specialists both routinely and when there are concerns. This is important because monitoring vision and eye health can promote early care, optimizing a child’s vision. Some vision conditions such as amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye, can be treated effectively if caught early.

Another strategy for parents/guardians is to learn some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a child has an eye or vision problem that should be assessed by their child’s doctor or a vision specialist. If you detect any of the signs or symptoms listed in the table* below, if your child sustains an injury or infection to the eye, or you have concerns about your child’s eyes or vision, contact your child’s healthcare provider right away for advice and appointment, if needed.

Resources

•  A Guide for Vision Screening in California Public Schools
• Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics
• Healthy Vision Month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• 20 Things to Know About Children’s Eyes and Vision