Eye care of the teenagers (12 to 17 years)
Do you know that younger teens in particular may not realise that their vision isn’t normal? It is therefore necessary to regularly diagnose possible visual problems. The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier it will be treated thus leading to lesser impact and consequences.
Having a good eyesight is essential for learning – it is important to take care of one of the most fragile and precious senses, especially during adolescence as some eye conditions can develop. The eye reaches its maximum potential between 10 and 15 years and after this period, the eyesight slowly begins to change and may gradually worsen.
Common eye problems
Some symptoms, among others, can suggest eyesight issues such as myopia , hyperopia, or astigmatism.
- Do you confuse certain letters?
- Has your vision from far or near deteriorated?
- Do you suffer from visual fatigue?
Other signs related to the lifestyle of teenagers and students are also to be considered, as they spend a lot of time in front of their screens:
- Prolonged screen use: your eyes have to work harder when staring at a screen, adjusting in different directions and changing focus. Our blink rate can almost half and will often squint, causing dry eye.
- Computer games: gaming is linked to eyestrain, as the eye is forced to jump frequently between different points of focus.
- Environment: poor lighting, screen glare and bad seating posture.
The solution
Whether you benefit from a good vision condition or not, consider protecting your eyes in all circumstances since they are exposed to many threats, including:
- Dust, pollen and insects that may irritate the eye
- Invisible rays, especially UV radiation (very dangerous) which are responsible for 90% of the premature aging of the eye. Although UV light cannot be felt, they are omnipresent, even in cloudy weather
- Exposure to blue light when using your smartphones, tablets and PCs. This light is partly responsible for the beginning of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) , a serious retinal disease that occurs with age
Like every organ in your body, your eyes need to rest regularly to stay on top of their performance. So make sure to take breaks to relieve them! Make sure your visual acuity is good. Take the lead, as prolonged use of screen may reveal a need for correction past until then unnoticed. Two essential habits that will preserve your eyes:
- Program an appointment with your optometrist every 2 years. He will propose the best solution for your visual impairment
- Wear UV-resistant glasses outdoors in all seasons
