In today’s era, the cases of visual disturbance are increasing day by day, especially in adolescents. Despite any physical injury to the eye, an adolescent might encounter the problem of visual impairment. Many factors affect visual acuity, from heredity to daily habits. If your child is also losing vision or has visual disturbance, then this article is for you.
In this article, we will tell you about the major causes of visual disturbance among adolescents.
Table of Contents
Causes of Visual Disturbance in Adolescents
Neglecting Sunglasses
Sunglasses are not only a stylish accessory but also a necessary means of protection from sunlight. At the same time, it is worth wearing them regardless of the time of year. Even in cloudless and cold weather in the winter months. With glasses, it becomes easier to perceive bright light and eyes get tired less without constant stress.
It is necessary to select an accessory and lenses with a good UV filter that blocks ultraviolet radiation. An additional bonus is the protection of the skin around the eyes and a decrease in the likelihood of the appearance of fine wrinkles. These can occur when a person squints. So you should buy sunglasses for yourself and for your child too.
Smoking
This bad habit of youngsters in many ways is directly related to visual impairment. Moreover, the risk of eye diseases among smoker’s doubles compared to those who are indifferent to cigarettes. Nicotine provokes the development of cataracts and macular degeneration – the area responsible for visual acuity.
Smoking interferes with blood flow to the retina and oxidative processes change the lens cells. Due to this, heavy metals such as gum accumulate in the body. There is no other way to reduce your risks other than quitting smoking or even cutting back on cigarettes.
Consumption of Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol damage the health of different parts of the body, and the eyes are no exception. Many people are aware of blurry vision caused by the consumption of alcohol. However, if a person continues this regime, there are high chances of vision impairment. There is even a chance of permanent blindness.
Youngsters use drugs for recreational purposes. But these activities can lead to vision problems, especially due to the use of cocaine. Keep a check on your kids. If there are signs of such an addiction, take them to a cocaine treatment center for recovery.
Swimming and Shower
Regardless of whether your child prefers long-term or daily wear lenses, you should ask them to remove them before showering or swimming in the pool. There are special lenses for swimming. For example, highly hydrophilic models will pass and retain water.
But along with bacteria, other small particles of dirt will get onto the mucous membrane. This can cause inflammation and the urge to rub the eyes, further contributing to the development of infection. The solution is to choose lenses suitable for bathing or take off regular lenses in time.
The Habit of Rubbing Eyes
The desire to touch your eyes once again may be the result of a lack of sleep or an allergy to cosmetics. In addition to the physical irritation of the mucous membrane, the chances of infection in the eye increase. The problem needs to be solved depending on the cause.
If your child has adolescent has a similar problem, try to establish their sleep schedule, choose hypoallergenic cosmetics, and guide them when they start to rub their eyes. It will not be superfluous to consult an ophthalmologist. Sometimes such itching and the sensation can be symptoms of the disease.
Malnutrition
As you know, carrots are good for vision. It is high in vitamins A, E, and C, which support eye health. But with an unbalanced diet, carrots will not be enough. It is important to eat a varied diet to get all the vitamins you need.
Also monitor food quality, limit sugar, and saturated fat. By the way, in addition to carrots and blueberries leafy vegetables, oily fish, egg yolks, cod, and butter are also healthy. As a parent, you can try to include these foods in your child’s diet.
Incorrect Lighting
There is a myth that reading in dim light impairs vision. This is not entirely true. The eyes adapt to the conditions, the pupil dilates, which creates tension but does not affect health. If the stressful state lasts a long time, then; as a result, the mucous membrane may experience dryness. The lighting should be adequate and even.
Ask your child to give rest to the eyes, especially if they spend several hours reading. Ophthalmologists advise adhering to the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look away from the monitor or book. Look to the side at a distance of about 20 steps and hold the gaze for 20 seconds. This exercise helps relieve tension. You can help your child to practice these simple exercises.
Prolonged Time in Front of the Screen
Previously, people more often paid attention to light sources, because without them, it was impossible to work and relax. With the advent of televisions first, and then computers and tablets, many stopped turning on lamps. Be careful, the screen’s flickering light causes the pupils to contract and dilate many times over. But children spend most of their time on these gadgets.
So look for a good quality monitor for them. Much depends on the type of monitor, its resolution, and page refresh rate. By itself, reading or playing video games in the dark does not lead to visual impairment. But still, it can contribute to eye fatigue, headaches, and frequent blinking. If your child excessively uses these gadgets, try to include additional light sources in their room.
Summing Up
Some parents believe that only through working in dim light, the vision problems can occur. However, this is not true. The most common reason for vision impairment in adolescents has been mentioned above. Pay attention to the routine and habits of your child and help them avoid bad habits and recover their vision.
