August is Children's Eye Health & Safety Month, and eyecare providers and eye health organizations are taking steps to ensure parents and caregivers are aware of the risks. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, there are more than 1.4 million children globally under the age of 14 with blindness. Additionally, 22.6 million children suffer from moderate to severe sight loss, and 46.6 million children from mild sight loss. The agency noted that 40 percent of children are blind from eye conditions that could have been prevented. In addition, research presented in the journal Pediatrics estimates that 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year, with nearly 35 percent of injuries among persons aged 17 years or less, and new data points to considerable morbidity, financial burden, and proximal causes for pediatric eye injury-related hospitalizations as being among the main reasons many children suffer from long-term effects of injury.

In recent years children have also faced a new threat to their quality vision in the form of digital devices which can lead to fatigue, headaches and blurry vision. A recent article by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) finds that more than 90 percent of all eye injuries can be prevented using suitable protective eyewear. For children, this means wearing protective eyewear while playing sports and wearing sunglasses when outdoors. AAO research also reveals that the most common eye injuries happen between the ages of five and 14, and they are most likely to occur when playing baseball.

In addition to wearing protective eyewear, the AAO advises caregivers to take these steps to prevent non-sports related eye injuries.

  • Keep kids away from chemical sprays.

  • Keep kids away from small objects such as paper clips, pencils, scissors, bungee cords, wire coat hangers and rubber bands.

  • Only purchase age-appropriate toys and avoid projectile toys such as darts, bows and arrows, and missile-firing toys.

  • Use safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

  • Do not allow your children to play with non-powder rifles, pellet guns or BB guns.

  • Do not allow children anywhere near fireworks.

  • Properly secure children in baby carriers and child safety seats, and ensure that the seat and shoulder belts fit well.
To help spread the message of eye safety and vision protection, eyecare providers have utilized social media to share resources and tips for caregivers.

Children's Eye Foundation of AAPOS, in Roseville, Minnesota, reminds caregivers about the importance of children wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes. Image via childrenseyefoundation on Instagram


The American Optometric Association reminds parents that missed eyecare appointments can lead to serious vision health problems in children. Image via americanoptometricassociation on Instagram


Kids Vision For Life in St. Louis, Missouri, has spent the summer helping connect kids with eyecare through a mobile vision clinic. Image via kvfl_stl on Instagram


The team at Prevent Blindness has gone all the way to Capitol Hill to advocate for the EDVI Act, which would establish the first federal program to address children’s vision and eye health. Image via prevent_blindness on Instagram


Children’s Eyecare in Michigan warns that most eye damage from the sun occurs during childhood. Image via childrenseyecare on Instagram