Your child’s eye safety is of the utmost importance. Each year, thousands of children have eye accidents at home, at play, during sports, or in the car. Sports in particular, can be accident-prone with more than 33,000 people each year being treated for eye injuries related to sports activities according to Prevent Blindness America. These eye injuries can damage a child’s sight and even cause blindness. Parents are urged to acquaint themselves with potentially dangerous situations at home and in school and to insist that their children use appropriate protective eyewear when participating in sports or other activities. Just like a helmet can protect your child’s head, using protective eyewear can help prevent injuries that might cause eye pain in your child.
As a parent, you might wonder “what would cause eye pain in a child”? What does it mean when a child’s eye hurts? Many different things, ranging from an injury, infection, disorders such as amblyopia, or vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism can cause what seems to be pain or cause complaints of an eye hurting. Common childhood eye disorders or symptoms of them should always be consulted with a doctor.
As a parent, noticing the signs of eye problems in children can be difficult, but rest assured that observing how your child behaves is very important for early detection of childhood eye problems and many childhood eye conditions can be cured with early detection. Look for behaviors indicating trouble seeing such as your child tilting their head or closing one eye. Childhood eye problems may also cause your child to avoid reading or fall behind in school. It is important to reach out to your primary care doctor, or a pediatric eye doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s vision or eye health.
If your child incurs an eye injury of any kind, reach out to an emergency medical provider right away. Local medical providers can refer you to Wolfe Eye Clinic pediatric ophthalmologists who are available on an on-call basis 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you have questions about eye safety, or eye protection devices, we encourage you to ask your eye doctor at your next visit. Consulting eye professionals can provide the best protection for sports and lifestyle hobbies.
With more than 40 locations throughout Iowa, expert eye care is always close to home.
Whether you need a routine eye exam or advanced surgical care, our team is here to help you see your best.
