When it comes to thinking about children’s health, eye injuries and vision impairments are probably not among the first ailments that come to mind.
Yet more than 12.1 million school-age children—nearly 25 percent—have vision impairments. Additionally, thousands of children age 5 and under suffer eye injuries each year at home, in the car and at play. Eye injuries affect older children as well, accounting for a majority of the 42,000 annual sports-related eye injuries.
Appropriate eye care is essential for maintaining good vision. Most eye problems in children can be corrected if they are detected and treated early. However, many problems can result in permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Your child’s eyes should be examined during regular pediatric appointments, and vision testing should be conducted around age 3.
