According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) only one in three children in America have ever received eye care services before age six, yet more than 12.1 million school aged children have some form of vision problem. August is a month where eye-damaging UV rays are still strong and school is just around the corner – the perfect time for Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.

An annual comprehensive eye exam is an important part of monitoring eye and the overall health in children, so it is recommended that school-aged children and teens get eye exams annually. Undetected vision problems can affect a child’s physical ability, readiness to learn, and self esteem. For more information on the importance of vision and eye health in children, be sure to check out the National Center For Children’s Vision and Eye Health.

Here is a list of great resources that you and your child can learn from during the month of August

• Making Every Day A Healthy Vision Day Calendar: is a great way for kids to learn fun eye related facts.
• Simple Tips For Healthy Eyes: is a list compiled by the National Eye Institute that make maintaining healthy eyes a snap.
• Kids Quest About Vision Impairment: is an online quest that older kids can take in order to learn more about vision impairment and how it affects children.

How are you planning to talk to children about eye health and safety? Let us know!

Prevent Blindness America has recently declared September as Sports Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month. When it comes to playing sports, children and teens with vision correction needs are often forced to make a decision that could potentially compromise their safety and athletic ability: do I take my glasses off for the game?

There are many options available that provide safe alternatives to removing glasses during athletic performance. For a list of recommendations for eye protection, please visit StarPupils.org, a site recently launched by Prevent Blindness America to educate parents on the importance of eye safety in sports. As always, please consult your eye care practitioner when determining the best option for you or your children.

When it comes to children's eye health and sports, the National Eye Institute reports some pretty eye-opening statistics: 43% of sports and recreational eye injuries occur in children under the age of 15. Also, a sports-related eye injury is treated in an emergency room in the United States every 13 minutes. To avoid being a statistic, remember to gear up with eye protection prior to participating in sports.

Our Contact Sports program also educates children, teens and parents about the importance of vision health, safety and convenience when it comes to sports. To learn more about contact lenses and sports, please visit mycontactsports.com.