Vision problems affect about 1 in 20 preschoolers and a quarter of school-going children as well, according to Prevent Blindness America. Keep yourself informed about eye problems that could potentially develop in your child, and about eye care and vitamins that can improve eye health. Undetected eye problems can lead to serious issues later that could also be more difficult to treat in later stages.
Eye Problems
Some eye problems that affect children demand medical attention. These include lazy eye syndrome, crossed eye, color blindness, retinopathy, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Early detection can help. Look for signs of eye problems in your child -- trouble focusing, lack of eye muscle control, for instance -- and consult your child's pediatrician or an opthamologist if you suspect vision difficulties. Be especially cautious if you suffer from vision problems. Myopia, for instance, can be passed genetically to your child. Early detection of myopia can prevent, delay or alleviate near-sightedness. Myopia, untreated, worsens until a child reaches adulthood.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, which helps convert light into nerve signals in the retina, can improve eye health in your child. Vitamin A deficiency is the most common cause of eye diseases and childhood blindness. When a deficiency of vitamin A is in the body, changes start to occur in various parts of the eye. The first sign of a vitamin A deficiency is difficulty seeing in the dark. Vitamin A is obtained by the body based on the food that we eat. Foods such as carrots, milk fortified with vitamin A, liver and dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli are rich in vitamin A.
Vitamins C and E
Vitamins C and E are also known to be good for the eye. These vitamins help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. These serious conditions don't affect children, but your child's lifelong vision could benefit by the inclusion of these vitamins in his diet. Vitamin C reduces eye pressure, and good sources of vitamin C include broccoli, sweet red pepper, kiwi, oranges, strawberries and cauliflower. Foods containing vitamin E include wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, almonds and peanut butter.
Supplements
While vitamins A, C and E can improve eye health, some marketers of children's vitamins have made unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of their products to eye and brain development. In December 2010, the Federal Trade Commission banned vitamin makers from making false and unproven claims. A refund program was initiated to distribute a total sum of $2.1 million to those who purchased the Disney and Marvel multivitamins that claimed to promote better eyesight among children, among other things.
