August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, placing a focus on the importance of early screenings, eye safety, and equitable access to pediatric eye care.
Regular eye exams at an early age monitor healthy eye development, screen for common pediatric vision issues, and detect inherited conditions. Yet, research shows that children from low-income families and racial/ethnic groups – including many non-English speaking populations – are far less likely to receive regular screenings in comparison to children of higher-income, English-dominant families.
These disparities make early detection even more critical, emphasizing the need to watch for the conditions most identified in childhood, including:
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Astigmatism (blurred vision)
- Color blindness
- Styes and chalazions (painful eyelid lumps that can obstruct vision)
Signs of vision problems in children include:
- Squinting or rubbing eyes
- Difficulty concentrating
- Frequent headaches
- Trouble recognizing letters or words
Preventing eye injuries is another component of eye health. Safety tips to safeguard children against risks include:
- Shatterproof eyewear for sports and activities
- UV-protective sunglasses
- Regular breaks from screens to reduce eye strain and support consistent high-quality sleep
At Whittier Street Health Center we encourage our optical and pediatric care providers to educate children and families about the importance of eye health, safety, and regular screenings as everyone deserves equitable access to comprehensive vision care – regardless of income, lack of insurance, or language barriers.
In observation of Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, we urge parents and caregivers to make vision screenings a regular part of their children’s health care. Whittier offers routine eye exams at both 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury center in the Frederica M. Williams Building and through our mobile dental and vision health van and provides ophthalmology services and treatment for a wide range of visual problems and eye diseases.
To learn more about eye care services at Whittier or to schedule an appointment, please call (617) 989-3058.