Summer ‘tis the season of fun, but it’s also a time to pay special attention to your kids’ eye care. From air conditioning to chlorinated swimming pools and bright sunlight, summer can bring its challenges for young eyes.
Here are some easy and effective tips to help protect your kids’ vision during the warmer months.
1 – Combat Dry Eye from Air Conditioners
Air con is great for keeping cool, but it can dry out your eyes. Dry eye symptoms in kids may include eye itchiness, irritability, redness, or excessive blinking.
To minimise the impact of air conditioning on little eyes, encourage your kids to:
- Avoid sitting underneath, or in the blast path, of air conditioners.
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
- Use artificial tears or lubricating eye drops if necessary.
- Some studies also show elevated humidity may be beneficial to relieve dry eye symptoms (1), so consider running a humidifier in rooms where air con is running.
2 – Protect Against Chlorine in Pools
Chlorine helps keep pools clean but can irritate the eyes, and may also damage the protective layers of the cornea (2).
To help protect your child’s eyes from chlorinated pools:
- Invest in well-fitted, age-appropriate swim goggles.
- If your child experiences irritation, rinse their eyes with clean water after swimming and avoid rubbing them.
3 – Guard Against Surfer’s Eye (Pterygium)
Surfer’s eye – or pterygium – is a pink, fleshy, wedge-shaped growth which develops on inner corner of the white of the eyeball. It is caused by long-term exposure to sun, wind, dust, and sand. Symptoms may include eye redness, burning, itchiness, or pain. If left untreated, it can spread across the iris and pupil, reducing vision significantly.
Pterygium is more common in adults, but can impact children who spend a lot of time outdoors without sufficient sun protection.
Tips to protect your child from pterygium:
- Ensure they always wear sunglasses that provide 100% UVA and UVB protection.
- A wide-brimmed hat offers extra shielding.
- If you suspect pterygium, see an optometrist for a proper diagnosis and treatment. They may recommend lubricating eyedrops or prescription steroid eyedrops to help relieve symptoms.
4 – Manage Light Sensitivity (Photophobia)
Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is especially common in children, and it can be exacerbated by bright summer days – leading to squinting and discomfort.
To help combat the impact this summer:
- Encourage your child to always wear polarised sunglasses, which aim to reduce light glare and ease eye sensitivity. Yes, even on overcast days – as UV rays penetrate clouds.
- Speak to your optometrist about whether photophobia glasses could be right for your child. These comprise specialised lenses that block the wavelengths of light that are generally most bothersome for photophobia sufferers, helping alleviate symptoms of light sensitivity.
- An optometrist may also guide you on visual exercises to strengthen neural connections and address the underlying issue of photophobia.
Bonus Summer Eye Care Tips
- Limit Screen Time: With kids at home, it’s understandable that device use may increase, something that can worsen myopia. Encourage breaks every 20 minutes to reduce eye strain.
- Provide a Balanced Diet: Foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, and omega-3s help promote overall eye health.
- Regular Check-Ups: During the summer school holidays, it’s a great time to schedule an annual optometrist eye exam to check your child’s eye health and vision.
Fun in the sun doesn’t have to mean sacrificing eye health. By following our simple summer eye care tips, you can help your kids enjoy the season while keeping their vision safe and sound.
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