Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

MIRAMAR, Fla. - Aug. 26, 2015 - PRLog -- In Focus: Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

School supply lists, car keys, your sanity - in the chaos of back to school, it’s easy to lose sight of many things. That’s why August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. While many parents faithfully schedule medical and dental checkups around back to school, eye health and safety often falls out of focus. As a leading medical and surgical supply company, AMD (http://www.AMD.com) is taking this opportunity to set sights on children’s vision. Here are some eye-opening tips, facts and reminders:

Nearly 25 percent of school-aged children have some form of vision impairment. Among children age three to five, almost one in 20 has a vision problem that could lead to permanent vision loss if untreated.

Children’s eyes should be examined at every pediatric checkup, and vision testing should start around age three. Eye charts with symbols rather than letters are particularly useful for testing at an early age.

An estimated 80 percent of classroom instruction is taught visually. The inability to see clearly has been proven to negatively impact academic performance, athletic ability and self-esteem.

The most common signs of vision problems in children include: frequently rubbing or squeezing eyes, squinting, wandering eyes or turning head to look at objects. Children who display any of these symptoms should have an eye exam immediately.

Children’s eye safety is just as important as eye health. To avoid eye injuries, children should wear protective eyewear when participating in sports and should always play with age-appropriate toys.

If your child sustains an eye injury avoid touching it, trying to remove debris or applying any medication. For eye injuries caused by chemicals, flush the eye with water or eye wash.

Through the medical and surgical supplies we carry, AMD is proud to support eye health and safety in children and adults alike. From head to toe, health and wellness are always in our sights.