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• Observe your children’s eyes and check whether they are aligned. If one eye turns outwards, inwards, upwards or downwards, this may indicate strabismus, a condition that affects 4% of children. If you notice this, your child should be examined by a paediatric ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
• Many school-age children have hyperopia (long-sightedness). In most cases, they do not need glasses. Children can generally adjust their focus and see clearly both near and far. However, significant hyperopia can lead to amblyopia and strabismus. It is therefore extremely important to have your children’s eyes checked regularly, even if they do not complain.
• Limit your children’s screen time. Excessive screen exposure has been directly linked to myopia and digital eye strain syndrome. We can therefore follow these rules of eye hygiene:
• THE 20-20-20 RULE: look away from the screen every 20 minutes and focus on something at least 20 feet (6 metres) away for at least 20 seconds.
• Exposure to natural sunlight prevents the onset of myopia in childhood.
• 3 less obvious signs that your child may not be seeing well:
• They lose interest very quickly in activities that require good vision.
• They lose their place when reading.
• They turn or tilt their head to see something directly in front of them.

If you notice one or more of these signs, your child should be examined promptly by a specialist paediatric ophthalmologist.

• Photographs can help diagnose serious eye conditions and thereby save a child’s sight or even their life. A white, black or brown reflection from the pupil may be a warning sign of a serious eye disease, and you should always consult a specialist paediatric ophthalmologist.
• Injury is one of the most common causes of irreversible vision loss in children, especially those aged 14 and over. Sunglasses and prescription glasses do not protect the eyes from injury. In fact, if the lenses are not shatterproof, they can cause extensive damage to the eyes in the event of an injury.

More than 90% of eye injuries can be prevented by wearing protective sports eyewear. Children who play basketball, baseball, football, tennis, hockey, lacrosse, paintball or take part in other activities should wear special protective eyewear to prevent serious injuries.

• If your children wear contact lenses, make sure they use them correctly and remove them before sleeping. Poor hygiene, particularly sleeping without removing the lenses, increases the risk of corneal ulcers, which can have devastating consequences for their vision.

Good vision is very important for children’s development and success at school. Make sure your children’s eyes are checked regularly by specialist paediatric ophthalmologists so that eye problems can be diagnosed and corrected early.