Your child’s eyes are precious. From the moment they are born, their eyes are working to provide them with visual information about the world around them. To ensure that your child’s vision remains strong throughout their lives, care for their eye health should begin in infancy and early childhood.

The vision care specialists from The Whitefish Eye Center in Flathead County, MT, have several childhood and infant eye care tips to help protect your child’s eyesight.

1. Begin Training Their Eyesight in Infancy

Your infant eye care routine can begin the minute you bring your child home from the hospital. Hanging a mobile over their crib or playpen will teach your child to focus on distant objects and protect against the development of myopia—or near-sightedness—in the future.

2. Avoid Screen Time

Do not give your child any screen time for at least the first two years. In addition to limiting your child developmentally, extended exposure to screens can create eye strain and cause vision to deteriorate at a young age. If you choose to introduce television and other devices, minimize usage to protect your child’s eyesight in the long run.

3. Feed Your Child a Healthy & Balanced Diet

A healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients is an important component of eye care at any age. Include nutrient-dense foods in their diets such as fatty fish, leafy greens, nuts, and citrus fruits. These foods have been shown to improve eye health and protect against degenerative eye diseases.

4. Always Use Protective Eye Wear

If your child swims in a pool or plays contact sports, encourage the use of protective eye wear. Wearing goggles and other protective lenses protects your child’s eyes from harmful chemicals, debris, and potential injury. You should also invest in a pair of sunglasses for your child to protect against harsh UV rays on bright days.

5. Visit the Eye Doctor Once a Year

Beginning around age three, your pediatrician may include a basic vision test as part of your child’s yearly physical. While this test measures the strength of your child’s eyesight, it cannot provide a complete report on the health of their eyes. For a full assessment of how your child’s vision is progressing, you should schedule a visit with your family eye doctor at least once a year.

For help getting your infant eye care routine underway, call (406) 862-2020 to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor from The Whitefish Eye Center. To view a full list of services offered by this vision clinic, including eye exams and laser eye surgery, visit them online.