Many of us are faced with common eye problems. Here are the ways to treat eye problems like conjunctivitis, foreign body in the eye and corrosive substance in the eye.Minor eye problems are common in children but taking right care is a must. Taking right precautions can prevent the problem from getting aggravated. Children may often cope with problems like entering of the foreign body in the eye or corrosive substance in the eye. They may also have to cope with eye problems like conjunctivitis. Listed below are the common eye problems and some tips for dealing with them.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis refers to the inflammation of the outer covering of the eye, the conjunctiva. Your baby's eyes will look red and feel itchy and sore. First, check to see if there is a foreign object in the eye. If there is not, and the eye still looks red and waters a great deal, take your child to the doctor who may prescribe antibiotics and eye drops.
Let your child take rest until the infection is completely gone. Watching television for longer time, playing video games, going out in sun etc; can put strain on your child’s
eyes. Therefore, you must encourage your child to avoid such activities till the infection subsides. It may take around 3 to 5 days for the infection to get cleared completely.
Foreign Body in the Eye
Often an eyelash or a grain of sand goes into your child's eye. If you can see the object, wash your hands and try to remove it by wiping the eye with a moist cotton ball. Another way is to ask someone to hold the baby still while you pour a stream of tepid water into her eye to wash out the offending object. You can also try to pull the upper lid down over the lower lid for a few seconds.
Corrosive Substance in the Eye
When this happens, you must flush out the toxic substance immediately. Hold your baby's eye open with your fingers and wash her eye out by pouring lukewarm water into it for about 15 minutes. If only one of her eyes has been affected, position her head in such a way that the tainted water does not run into her unaffected eye.
Tips for Protecting Your Child’s Eyes
Eyes of children are delicate and they need protection. Here is how you can protect your child’s eyes and prevent
eye problems.
Protect Eyes from Sun Rays
It is a must to protect eyes of children from sun rays. Making children wear sunglasses while they are out in sun can surely help. The risk of damage to children’s eyes is higher when they are on ski-slopes or while they are at beaches. During these times it is a must to make children wear sunglasses. Make sure that the
sunglasses that you buy for your children are capable of blocking Ultra Violet Rays (UV rays).
Eye Checkups
Even if children do not have any eye problems, it is necessary to take them for eye checkups on regular basis. It is necessary to include nutritious food in their diet, especially foods that help in improving vision. Doing
eye exercises regularly can also help to prevent eye problems in children.
Preventing Eye Injuries
As a parent is a must to take right precautions to prevent eye injuries in children. Most of the eye injuries are preventable if right care is taken. Childproofing the house can not only help to prevent common accidents but also to avoid eye injuries. Do not allow your children to play with sharp objects and keep the toxic substances out of their reach. Train you children to protect their eyes when they are at playground. Take measures so that your children do not fall or skid while playing.
Eyes of children are very delicate. Taking right precautions can surely help in preventing eye injuries and eye problems in children. Whenever any eye problem is suspected in children, it is a must to consult doctor immediately.