You know what the sun can do to skin, right? Many a parent has learned the hard way. A few carefree hours in the sun – without sunscreen – can wreak havoc on the tender skin of children.

Well, their eyes are just as delicate. But while many parents religiously slather on the sunscreen, very few are just as careful with their kids’ eyes.

It’s true: we recently surveyed about 2,000 U.S. adults. And we learned that a healthy 82% of parents make their children wear sunscreen while outdoors in the sun. But a not-so-healthy 32% outfit their kids with sunglasses.

Plano, Texas-based Anthony Borgognoni, O.D., isn’t surprised. Most people know the damaging effects of UV light on the skin, he says. But, “Far fewer people understand that extended exposure to sunlight in childhood can lead to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Both of those disorders can cause impaired vision or even blindness. Making sure your kids wear sunglasses isn’t a frill, it’s a necessity.”

Dr. Borgognoni has a special interest in evangelizing sunglasses for kids. He developed premature cataracts in both eyes at the tender age of 46. And he points to a ton of childhood sun exposure as a likely cause.

“I grew up playing Little League baseball and football all day long in small-town Arkansas,” he says. “In those days, nobody thought much about putting sunglasses on kids to protect their vision.”

So, if you’re ready to go out and buy your kids sunglasses, read on to find out what to look for, and what to avoid.

Sunglasses Buying Tips:

Spot the sticker. Most sunglasses have a UV-protection sticker. But also look for the American Optometric Association’s Seal of Acceptance. These glasses block 99 to 100% of damaging UV radiation.
Avoid toys. Toy sunglasses aren’t good enough. Buy real ones with UV-protection. Choose shatterproof impact -resistant lenses that won’t pop out of their frames.
Go dark. Lenses should block about 75-90% of light. So, before you buy, look at your child with the sunglasses on. You shouldn’t be able see his or her eyes.
Gray’s the way. Gray lenses are best. They absorb all colors equally, so kids see the world in natural colors.
Block sideways rays. Make sure the sunglasses are big enough for your child’s head or have some kind of “wrap around” feature to help block rays coming in the sides of the frames.

Visit a VSP network eye care professional near you to find sunglasses for kids.

Already have an RX and prefer to shop online? Use your benefits at Eyeconic®, VSP’s in-network online retailer.

Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/sunglasses-for-kids

Summer is here, and the next school year is on the horizon. As you rush around getting new school clothes and supplies, don’t forget to schedule your child’s back-to-school eye exam. This is an essential step for school readiness because poor vision can be a barrier to learning.

If you’re thinking about contacts for your child or if they’re starting to ask about wearing them, it’s important to talk with your child’s VSP network doctor. The following information might help you learn more about contact lenses.

How do I know when my child is ready for contact lenses?

There is no “right age” to begin wearing contact lenses — almost anyone of any age can wear them. But it involves a level of responsibility and the ability to follow a wear-and-care routine. If you feel your child can responsibly care for lenses, consider talking to your VSP network eye doctor about contact lens options.

What’s a good lens for a first-time wearer?

It depends on what’s best for your child’s eye care needs. One option is daily disposable lenses, a lens that’s worn for one day then thrown away. The convenience of daily disposable lenses makes them great for children, teens and other first-time wearers. Other contact lens options include those that are designed to be worn for a week, two weeks or a month.

What is a proper wear-and-care routine?

A proper wear-and-care routine is essential for contact lens success. How you care for your contacts is based on the lens and wearing schedule your VSP network eye doctor recommends. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for proper lens disinfection, and how often to replace them. Always remember to wash your hands before touching your contacts or your eyes.

Think your child might be ready for contacts? Visit a VSP network eye doctor.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/lasik-glasses-lenses/kids-contacts

Most people agree that a child’s success in school is heavily dependent on good vision. For those who need them, wearing glasses is crucial to ensuring they can learn to the best of their ability. But, as many parents experience, getting your child to actually wear their glasses can seem like a tall order. Know you’re not alone—it’s a common struggle. So common, in fact, that we’ve collected these tried and true tips that should make things a bit easier (for the both of you!).

Give them ownership – Let kids be a part of picking out their glasses. Doing so gives them an opportunity to express themselves and makes them more likely to wear their glasses. There are tons of great options for kids’ glasses, with plenty of stylish and colorful choices as well as durable and lightweight options for the more active kiddos.

Take baby steps – Transitioning to something new is hard for anyone. Kids are no different. Some will get in the swing of things quicker than others. The best thing you can do is start small and ask your child to wear their glasses for 15 minutes a day. Then move up to 30 minutes a day. Keep going for up to a few weeks, and eventually wearing glasses will become the norm and not the exception.

Harry Potter. Taylor Swift. Justin Bieber – What do these cultural icons all have in common? They all wear glasses. Find someone your child can relate to who wears glasses. Together, make a collage of photos of them wearing glasses and put it up in your child’s room.

Your eye doctor is your partner – Don’t be afraid to go back to your eye doctor if your child’s glasses aren’t fitting right. They will want to know what is and isn’t working and will be happy to make adjustments to the fit as needed.

Talk to a teacher – School can be tricky because many kids will tell their parents they’re wearing their glasses when they really aren’t. Always let the teacher know what’s expected of the child with his or her glasses. Also consider having two pairs of glasses, one for school and one for home. This will ensure that your child has their glasses when and where they need them.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/lasik-glasses-lenses/getting-kids-to-wear-glasses

Protecting Kids Vision in Sports

As the weather grows warmer, aspiring little leaguers have begun to channel their favorite Major League Baseball players and are ready to run the bases.

Before your little one starts swinging a bat, there are several important things to know about sports-related eye injuries. Eye injuries from sports are all too common: every 13 minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury. While about 90% of these injuries can be avoided, sports like baseball are known to cause the most injuries to the eyes.

What you need to know to protect your little all-star

“A lot of players get or cause eye injuries not because of mishap on the field, but rather because they have undetected or uncorrected vision issues like poor depth perception,” said Keith Smithson, OD.

Clear vision directly correlates with an athlete’s performance, and if they cannot see clearly on the diamond, their performance will suffer. Poor vision can lead to accidents such as tripping and falling, as well as misjudging how far away an object is. For baseball especially, it is imperative to have unobstructed vision as hitting a baseball happens within seconds. If your child is struggling to make contact with the ball, it might be time to have their eyes checked.

It’s also important that your child’s eyes are properly protected while they are on the field. Wearing sports safety glasses can help your athlete avoid getting particles in their eyes when they slide into home base. If dirt from the baseball diamond gets into your child’s eye, it can cause severe damage, such as a corneal abrasion, and be very uncomfortable.

Dr. Smithson noted that coaches aren’t always educated on the proper protective eyewear for each sport and therefore you shouldn’t rely solely on them to suggest the best equipment for your child. Some coaches, unknowingly, will let their players wear eyeglasses while they play, which can potentially shatter and cause more damage to a child’s eye than wearing no protective eyewear at all.

Your VSP network eye doctor can help make sure your child has the protective eyewear they need to perform on and off the field. Outside of a consultation on the right protective eyewear, having your child undergo an annual comprehensive eye exam is also crucial before an injury occurs.

“Don’t wait until your child experiences an eye injury to take them to the eye doctor,” said Dr. Smithson. “An eye exam can give eye doctors a baseline of your child’s vision to measure up against if they do happen to get injured, including concussions. Otherwise it can be hard to determine what typically is ‘normal’ vision for your child.”

To help your child become an all-star in their respective little league and protect them from eye injury, remember your VSP network eye doctor is on your team. Hitting a home run with the right prescription and pair of sports safety glasses from your eye doctor can make all the difference this season.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/performance-vision/baseball-eye-injury-prevention

While it might seem obvious that being cross eyed means your eyes don’t line up normally, there is a lot more to crossed eyes than their appearance.

Strabismus is the official term for crossed eyes, but other names for it include tropia, eye turns, wall eyed, and wandering eye. Contrary to common opinion, being cross eyed is not the same as having a lazy eye, although strabismus can lead to a lazy eye.

Amblyopia, the medical term for lazy eye syndrome, is not always detectable by the naked eye. The brain partially or totally blocks off visual input from the lazy eye in a process called suppression which can lead to permanent functional damage to the eye if it goes untreated.

Unlike amblyopia, strabismus is essentially a result of a miscommunication between the brain and the muscles around the eye, leading to a misalignment of the eyes. Strabismus has many varieties and causes (including heredity), and it appears most often in young children.

It is normal for children under 6 months of age to experience occasional crossed eyes (intermittent strabismus) because their brains are still developing the ability to see normally; they will likely grow out of it. If crossed eyes (constant strabismus), become a recurring problem in children over 6 months the child should receive treatment immediately to prevent the condition from getting worse.

If left untreated, strabismus can cause children to have trouble in school, among other things. It often causes double vision which can lead to eye strain, headaches, and attention problems, and frustration. Children with strabismus also have a higher risk of nearsightedness.

Some of the most common types of strabismus include:

• Small-angle – slight misalignment of the eyes
• Large-angle – significant misalignment of the eyes
• Esotropia – inward turning of the eye(s). Types include congenital, infantile, accommodative, and amblyopic
• Exotropia – outward deviation of the eye(s). Types include constant, intermittent, and alternating
• Hypertropia – upward deviation of the eye(s)
• Duane’s Syndrome – difficulty moving eyes laterally and retraction of the eye

Common treatments for these and other kinds of strabismus include special eye drops, eye patches, appropriate eyewear, vision therapy, and—in extreme cases—surgery. Most of the time, strabismus can be fixed if caught early enough and treated appropriately.

To help prevent your child from experiencing problems in the classroom and permanent vision problems, you should schedule regular children’s eye exams with your VSP network eye doctor.

Source: Optometrists Network: What is Strabismus?

Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Article ©2020 Vision Service Plan. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited. This article was originally published at https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/cross-eyed