Clear eyesight is essential to your preschool child’s social and learning development. Between 2 and 5 years of age, they use their sense of seeing to learn new things. They largely depend on their vision to develop their oculo-motor coordination, recognition skills, and literacy abilities.
With these in mind, Park Slope Eye emphasizes the importance of maintaining your preschool child’s eyesight. Our reliable pediatric eye doctor in Brooklyn, NY, shares some steps you can take to help their vision development.
Be Familiar with Telltale Signs of Vision Problems
At this age, your child will not be able to realize that they have visual impairments. That said, it is important to be observant and keen on their habits. Squinting and sitting too close to the TV are two of the most common signs of seeing difficulties. You may also watch out for frequent rubbing of the eyes, tilting of their heads, or increased sensitivity to glare. Children with poor vision may also avoid eye-hand-body activities, such as biking, dancing, or coloring.
Know the Difference Between Vision Screening and Vision Examination
Most schools conduct a vision screening for preschool students. However, this is only a limited assessment used to check if your child may or may not have a vision problem. This is why we recommend having your child undergo a comprehensive eye examination as well.
At Park Slope Eye, we can perform various tests and procedures to evaluate their eye structures. This will help in the early detection of potential visual problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. We may prescribe wearing eyeglasses in Brooklyn, NY, to help them see better and to improve their quality of life.
Maintain Their Healthy Lifestyle
We also encourage preparing nutritious food for your child, such as deep water fish, citrus fruits, and orange-colored and green leafy vegetables. They contain various nutrients that help maintain your child’s eyesight. Although preschoolers can be picky eaters, combining colorful foods on their plate may entice them to eat such. We also suggest playing with them to help them develop their hand-eye coordination, such as ball throwing and catching. We advise allowing them to play outdoors with other kids as well.
Most importantly, we recommend visiting your trusted eye specialists regularly. We combine our knowledge, skills, and state-of-the-art technologies to provide superior eye care services for you and your family. From eye exams to dry eye treatment in Brooklyn, NY, we can help.
For more vision care tips or other eyesight concerns, call us today at (347) 380-7070. You can also send us an e-mail at info@parkslopeeye.com to schedule an appointment.