How to prevent visual problems in children
Children’s eyes are the first means by which they decipher the world, capture its details and open themselves to new discoveries. However, the eyes of toddlers are particularly delicate: therefore, they require special attention from their earliest years in order to prevent any problems or learn how best to manage them.
Eye checkups: the first step to healthy eyesight
Regular eye examinations are the first step in preventing vision problems in children and ensuring that their vision develops properly. Some vision problems, such as strabismus, amblyopia (lazy eye) or refractive defects such as myopia and astigmatism, can be difficult to notice without a specialist diagnosis.
Within the first year of life, it is essential that the child receive an eye examination to rule out any congenital abnormalities, such as childhood cataracts, strabismus, or other conditions that, if left untreated, could affect vision development. Even if no obvious signs are noticed, a specialist checkup allows you to make sure that the eyes are growing healthily.
Around the age of 3-4 years, a child’s vision plays a key role in cognitive and motor development. It is at this stage that problems such as amblyopia (often difficult to detect without an examination) or the need for glasses to correct refractive defects such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism can be detected. A thorough checkup can also detect difficulties in coordination between the eyes, which is essential for activities such as play and learning.
Another crucial time is the start of school: many school activities, such as reading, writing, and looking at the blackboard, require sharp vision from both near and far. Undiagnosed vision problems can adversely affect learning ability, causing difficulty concentrating, headaches or eye fatigue. Starting at this age, it is advisable to monitor vision with annual checkups. A regular checkup allows any visual corrections, such as glasses, to be adjusted.
The importance of a nutrient-rich diet
Ensuring that your child has a varied and nutrient-rich diet also plays a key role in visual development. Growing toddlers require a steady supply of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that not only promote general well-being, but offer specific protection for vision, preventing developmental problems and visual fatigue.
Key nutrients for eye health
Each nutrient plays a specific role in supporting eye health and preventing visual problems. Therefore, it is essential to know where to find the necessary nutrients and incorporate them into the child’s feeding routine.
Vitamin A
The vitamin A is essential for the health of the retina, the part of the eye that captures light and sends visual signals to the brain. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to problems such as dry eyes or, in severe cases, difficulty seeing in low light (night blindness). It is present in foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and liver.
Vitamin C and E
These powerful antioxidants play a key role in protecting eye cells from free radicals, unstable molecules that can cause oxidative damage over time. Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, kiwifruit, peppers and strawberries, helps maintain healthy blood vessels in the eye and reduces the risk of cataracts in adulthood. Vitamin E, found in almonds, sunflower seeds and avocados, acts as a barrier against cellular damage, preserving the health of eye membranes.
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish (such as salmon and mackerel), flaxseed, walnuts and fish oil, are essential for proper retinal development. They also improve eye lubrication, reducing the risk of dry eyes, a condition that can also occur in children. These essential fats also play a positive role in preventing eye fatigue, especially in those who frequently use electronic devices.
Lutein and zeaxanthin
These two natural pigments, found in leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach and broccoli, act as natural filters against harmful blue light, protecting the macula, a crucial part of the eye responsible for central and detail vision. Incorporating these foods into the diet helps prevent long-term damage and improve visual acuity in children.
Reduce exposure to screens
Prolonged use of electronic devices, such as tablets, smartphones and computers, is a major cause of digital eye fatigue in children. Screens emit blue light, which can disturb sleep and cause visual stress. To avoid these consequences, various steps can be taken, such as the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, encourage your child to look at an object at least 6 meters (20 feet) away for 20 seconds. This simple exercise helps relax the eye muscles. Another tip concerns limiting time in front of screens: for children under 2 years old, it is best to avoid electronic devices altogether; for older children, limit exposure to 1-2 hours a day, preferably divided into short sessions. Finally, make sure that the distance from the screen is also optimal: the screen should be about 40-50 cm from the child’s eyes.
Outdoor activities and healthy environment to protect children’s eyesight
Children’s visual health depends not only on regular checkups and good nutrition, but also on a lifestyle that combines outdoor activities and a home and school environment designed to reduce visual stress. These two aspects are complementary and critical to fostering balanced visual development.
Playing outdoors: an ally for eye health
Spending timeoutdoors and creating a healthy environment are two key aspects of preventing vision problems in children. Recent studies have shown that exposure to natural light reduces the risk of myopia by contributing to balanced eyeball development through stimulation of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter. For this reason, it is advisable to encourage children to spend 1-2 hours a day outdoors, playing in parks or gardens. Activities such as sports, exploration and group games not only relax the eyes, but also improve general well-being. It is always important, however, to protect against ultraviolet (UV) rays by using sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection, a hat with a wide visor during sunny days, and avoiding peak hours (between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.), which is when UV rays are most intense.
An ideal environment for healthy eyes: light, posture and relaxation
At the same time, the environment in which the child lives and studies plays a crucial role in preventing eye fatigue and problems. Proper lighting, natural or artificial, should be even and well distributed, avoiding too bright or direct lights. Tools and teaching materials with large, legible fonts can reduce eye strain, while good posture is essential to prevent eye and muscle strain. Make sure your child maintains some distance from the book or screen and that his or her back is straight during activities. Taking a small break every 30 minutes while reading or studying is also necessary to relax vision and prevent fatigue.
“Myopidemia,” the growing phenomenon of myopia in younger people
The most common visual defect among children and young teens is myopia, often linked to genetic factors and the modern lifestyle of excessive exposure to screens and little time spent outdoors. It is estimated that about 35 percent of kids under the age of 14 suffer from myopia, and the trend is set to increase substantially in the coming years, so much so that a new word has quickly spread online: “myopidemia“. Myopia makes it difficult to see distant objects clearly and, if not monitored and treated properly, can progress over time, increasing the risk of visual complications in adulthood.
To manage it effectively, early diagnosis is essential. Regular checkups at the ophthalmologist allow the problem to be detected and intervene early with targeted solutions, such as glasses, contact lenses or specific treatments.
