……Becoming more intentional on providing eye health care for children
There has become an increased need for good, affordable eye care in our society. While eye care professionals keep sharpening their skills and engaging in updated research on how best to cater to diverse eye care needs, it is also important for the population to become intentional about achieving the general health goal of ensuring good vision and health. It is because of this I write to sensitise, educate and enlighten everyone on their eyes, especially with regards to children.
This year’s world sight day which held on the second Thursday of October, which was on the 10th, highlights the need for a diverging focus to children’s eye health. While a lot of articles, health talk and health fairs/outreach programmes have focused on the adult-population eye needs, it’s very important to highlight the major eye health issues children face and how important it is to give attention to it to resolve them and prevent blindness-causing threats when they become adults. A lot has been said to raise awareness on eye health issues like refractive errors, presbyopia, cataract, glaucoma, hypertensive and diabetic retinopathies, age related macular anomalies; but it’s important to know that children suffer from some of these mentioned, either congenitally (at birth), family history or acquired (by environment, activity, care and nutrition).

How do parents become more intentional about the eye health of their children?
The first is being aware that children can have their eyes checked as early as the first month after birth. If there were challenges with the birth process, noticeable continuous pus discharge, brownish or reddish colouration of the eyes, continuous tears even when baby is sleeping, it is an insight to get an eye health check. If there is family history of eye issues like refractive errors, glaucoma, cataract, macular anomalies, among others, they should be checked and monitored as well.
Next is parental alertness for signs of possible eye issues in children growth pattern like complaints of not seeing clearly, bumping into objects, noticing crossed eyes, uncomfortable with light in the house or sunlight outside, poor performance in school, poor handwriting, incomplete school notes, teacher complaints about children not writing well from board, not participating in reading or recitation exercises, quietness in lessons but comfortable during break time, children complaints of eye pain, headache, pus discharge, itching, crusts/eye lid dirt, eye swelling, poor vision, among others. Attending to these early helps resolve the issues timely and helps with good management to prevent any future damage.

Another is promoting good hygiene and good nutrition. Ensuring children wash hands regularly during school hours and after play, as well as take bath when back from school will prevent germs and disease-causing vectors from harming them. Also, good balanced diet majorly filled with protein, minerals, vitamins, taking fruits and drinking water helps proper growth and development; also taking doctor-prescribed multivitamin supplement for children will prevent malnutrition, anaemia, as well as improve immunity and develop the cells.

Lastly, is having a good health-seeking behaviour and avoiding self-medication. It’s important that parents should have an eye doctor they can have access to for any eye-related issues like myself, an optometrist. Parents and guardians should discourage the use of unprescribed eye drops or tablets or multivitamin as self-medication may compound the eye issue which may later on be learnt as not a big challenge when visiting the eye clinic for intervention. The indiscriminate use of urine and breast milk or coconut water, or juice from fruits or plant leaves or herbs is not proper as this can cause other eye diseases. It’s important to visit licensed eye care professionals and eye clinics/eye departments with licensed Optometrists, because they will examine, diagnose and provide the best treatment or management plan in cases where there is no specific curative treatment.
Conclusively, parents are admonished to take an active part in their children’s health and well-being. It is joyful when there is good health and good vision. Together, let’s focus on the future. Happy world sight day 2024!
Dr. Nnamdi Nweke an Optometrist, can be reached on 08162842762, nnamdinadnweke@gmail.com