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August marks the start of Children's Eye Health and Safety Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of eye health in children. Did you know that 80% of what children learn is through their eyes? That's why it's crucial to take care of their vision from a young age. This observance began in 1996, and since then, it has helped spread information about common eye problems in children, as well as promote safety measures to protect their eyesight. So let's celebrate this month by ensuring our little ones' eyes are healthy and safe!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1996</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Inception of the Awareness Month</div><div class='timeline-text'>Children's Eye Health and Safety Month was established to emphasize the significance of eye health and safety in children.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Guidelines Established</div><div class='timeline-text'>The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus finalized national screening guidelines for children's vision.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2005</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Increase in Awareness Campaigns</div><div class='timeline-text'>Efforts to disseminate information about eye health and safety increased, with a focus on digital devices causing damage to young eyes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Focus on Sports Eye Safety</div><div class='timeline-text'>The significance of children's eye protection during sports activities became a major point of emphasis in awareness campaigns.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic</div><div class='timeline-text'>With the rise in digital learning due to the pandemic, experts stressed on the need for regular eye check-ups and protecting children's eyes from excessive screen time.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Schedule a comprehensive eye exam</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>The best way to ensure your child's eye health and safety is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist. This will help identify any vision problems and provide early intervention for any potential issues.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Educate children on eye safety</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Teach children about the importance of protecting their eyes and how to do so. Discuss topics such as wearing protective eyewear during sports or activities, avoiding looking directly at the sun, and taking regular breaks from screen time.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create art projects focused on eyes</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Engage children's creativity by having them create art projects focused on eyes. This could include drawing their own eyes or making collages of different types of eyes. This will not only be fun, but also reinforce the importance of eye health.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a children's eye health and safety fair</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Partner with local eye care professionals to host a children's eye health and safety fair. This can include fun activities, educational workshops, and free eye screenings for children.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a poster contest</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Encourage children to get creative and design posters that promote eye health and safety. Have a contest with prizes for the winners and display the posters in schools or community centers to raise awareness about the importance of children's eye health.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Children's eye health is crucial for their overall well-being</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Proper eye care is essential for children's development, as their vision plays a significant role in their ability to learn, play, and interact with the world around them. By promoting good eye health practices during this month, we are helping ensure that children have the best chance at a healthy and successful future.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It raises awareness about common eye problems in children</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Many parents may not realize that their child is experiencing vision issues until it starts to impact their daily activities. Children's Eye Health and Safety Month brings attention to common eye problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and lazy eye, allowing parents to seek early detection and treatment for their child.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes safety measures to protect children's eyes</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>This month also highlights the importance of protecting children's eyes from potential hazards that can cause injury or vision loss. Whether it's wearing protective eyewear during sports or avoiding harmful toys and objects, Children's Eye Health and Safety Month reminds us to prioritize safety when it comes to our children's eye health.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Eye Diseases Can Manifest Early in Infancy</h3><p class='facts-content'>While infants cannot express visual problems, conditions like Strabismus (crossed eyes) or Amblyopia (lazy eye) can often appear in the first year of life, emphasizing the need for early eye checks.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Children Generally Don't Complain About Vision Problems</h3><p class='facts-content'>Since they often don’t realize they see the world differently, children are unlikely to report issues with their vision, making regular eye tests vital for detection and remediation of any problems.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Not All Schools Perform Comprehensive Eye Tests</h3><p class='facts-content'>Most school vision screenings only test for distance visual acuity, but they may miss other important vision problems like eye coordination issues, which can influence academic performance.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Color Blindness Can Affect Learning Abilities</h3><p class='facts-content'>Nearly 1 in 12 boys (and a smaller ratio of girls) are color blind, which can impact learning abilities. Early detection can trigger necessary modifications in their learning materials.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Kids are at a Higher Risk of UV Damage</h3><p class='facts-content'>Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV radiation as the lens inside a child's eye is less capable of blocking UV than an adult lens, underscoring the need for protective eyewear in kids.</p></div></div>
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month is celebrated on August 1 every year. In 2024, it will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Aug 1
Tuesday
2024
Aug 1
Thursday
2025
Aug 1
Friday
2026
Aug 1
Saturday
2027
Aug 1
Sunday
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