When it comes to your kids, you want what's best for them. You also want to keep them as healthy as possible. Part of that health includes their eyes. Unfortunately, the eyes are often overlooked, especially when it comes to the things that can cause vision problems, or eye injuries. To help protect your kids, here are four safety tips you should follow.

Limit Screen Time

If your kids are like most of the kids in America, they probably have their fair share of electronic devices, including televisions, computers, tablets, and video game systems. While electronic devices in moderation won't cause vision problems, excessive use of the devices can. To help your child avoid vision problems, you should limit their screen time each day. It's also a good idea to encourage vision breaks during electronic use. This is particularly important if your kids are old enough to need their computer for schoolwork. While your kids are using the computer, encourage them to give their eyes a few minutes of rest for each hour they're looking at their computer screen.

Discourage Eye Rubbing

You might not realize this, but eye rubbing can cause vision problems. First, rubbing can cause particles of dirt and sand to scratch the surface of your child's eyes. Second, if your kids rub their eyes with dirty hands, they can transfer germs and bacteria, which can lead to eye infections, such as conjunctivitis. To protect your kids eyes, you should discourage eye rubbing,especially when their hands are dirty.

Monitor the Toys

If you have small children, you should monitor their toys. Toys with sharp edges can cause serious eye injuries. Even if you don't buy your kids toys with sharp edges, they could still have dangerous toys in their toy boxes. This is particularly true of toys that have been damaged due to excessive use. To keep potential hazards away from your kids eyes, go through their toy box at least once a month. Toss out any toys that could injure your kids eyes.

See the Optometrist

Even if your kids aren't complaining of vision problems, you should still have their eyes checked at least once every two years. Some kids don't even realize they have vision problems until the optometrist diagnoses them. Kids should have their first vision exam right before they enter school for the first time. If your kids do end up needing to have their vision corrected, your optometrist will be able to provide them with the right glasses. Be sure to let them choose their own frames. Allowing your kids to choose their own frames will help them enjoy wearing them more.

Don't take chances with your kids vision. Use the tips provided here to help protect their eyes. Be sure to talk to the optometrist about other ways to keep your kids eyes healthy.

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