The children's eye health questions parents forget to ask

August is Children's Eye Health Month. Here are the questions worth asking at the next appointment, and the signs worth noticing before you get there.

The support team

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“Nutrition is a team sport, and eye health is no different, as it relies on diverse nutrients in your child’s diet to support overall eye health,” says Nicolle Regent, Bio Island’s Customer Relations Manager and Nutritionist (Adv Dip. Nut Medicine).

Hannah Smiroldo, Bio Island’s Product Training Co-Ordinator and Nutritionist (BHSc), agrees. “Children’s eyes continue to develop throughout childhood, so good nutrition is important for supporting healthy eye development. Vitamin A is particularly important for normal vision and eye function, while carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin are naturally concentrated within the eye, particularly the retina. A varied diet can also provide other nutrients that contribute to overall eye and general health. Of course, nutrition is only one part of the picture. Regular time outdoors, healthy screen habits and routine eye checks are also important throughout childhood.”

“Routine check ups are an important part of an eye health routine,” adds Nicolle. “Children may compensate for vision changes without complaining. Professional checks may catch things parents cannot see.”

For the shopping list

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“I always encourage parents to think about colour and variety when it comes to nutrients for eye health,” says Hannah. “Orange and yellow vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin and sweet potato contain beta-carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A. Dark-green vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli can provide lutein and zeaxanthin, while eggs are another useful and very family-friendly source of these carotenoids. The good news is these foods don’t have to be served in complicated ways. Try adding grated carrot or spinach to pasta sauces, including eggs at breakfast or in sandwiches, blending vegetables into soups, or roasting pumpkin and sweet potato as an easy side dish.”

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The signs at home worth paying attention to

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Children do not always know that what they are experiencing is not normal. If their vision has always been slightly blurry, or they have always struggled to see the board from the back of the classroom, they often assume that is simply what the world looks like. They do not tell you, not because they are hiding it, but because they have nothing to compare it to.

Which means the first line of detection is you.

Signs worth noting:

1. Squinting, especially when looking at something in the distance or at a screen. Squinting is the eye’s attempt to reduce the amount of light coming in and sharpen the image.
2. Tilting or turning the head, often a sign that one eye is stronger than the other and the child is unconsciously positioning themselves to use their stronger eye.
3. Holding things very close, including books, devices and anything requiring focus. This is one of the most common early signs of shortsightedness.
4. Frequent headaches, especially after schoolwork or screen time. Eye strain is one of the most common and most overlooked causes of headaches in school-age children.
5. Rubbing their eyes excessively. While this can be related to tiredness or allergies, persistent rubbing can also indicate visual discomfort.
6. Losing their place when reading, or skipping lines. This can sometimes be a visual processing issue rather than a reading one.

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The questions worth asking at the next appointment

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Most parents arrive at an eye appointment, answer the questions they are asked and leave. The questions they wanted to ask often do not make it out.

Here are five worth bringing:

1. Is my child’s vision age-appropriate?
   Not just whether they can see clearly, but whether their visual development is tracking the way it should for their age. The answer is more nuanced than a simple pass or fail.
2. Are there any signs of strain or fatigue in their eyes?
   Particularly relevant for children who spend significant time reading or on screens. A child can have technically normal vision and still be experiencing eye strain.
3. What should I be feeding them to support their eye health?
   Most optometrists do not bring this up unprompted. But the answer is genuinely useful and worth having.
4. How often should we come back?
   The answer varies by age and individual circumstance. Having a clear schedule, rather than returning only when something seems wrong, is worth establishing.
5. Is there anything I should be watching for at home before the next appointment?
   A good optometrist will give you a specific answer based on what they observed. If they do not, it is worth asking.

The test is free. The booking takes five minutes.

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Children’s eye tests are covered by Medicare. There is no out-of-pocket cost for a standard eye test at a bulk-billing optometrist.

And yet, 30% of Australian children under 18 have never had one.

This is not a judgement. It is just worth knowing. Because the gap between access and action, in this case, is simply awareness. Parents who know the test is free and know what to look for are the ones who book it.

Book your child’s eye test. And while you are there, Bio Island VitaEyes for Children is available at Chemist Warehouse and pharmacy stockists nationally.

This information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. Always consult your healthcare professional before taking any supplements or if any concerns arise.

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