Children with eyeglasses

By Metro Creative

Wearing eyeglasses is not strictly reserved for adults. In fact, many children wear eyeglasses, and they may need them for different reasons.

The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus says children may benefit from glasses while their visual systems are still developing, within the first 12 years of life.

Glasses can be important for the normal development of kids’ vision, including providing better vision; straightening crossed or misaligned eyes; protecting one eye that sees better when the other eye has poor vision; and strengthening a weak (lazy) eye.

The University of Rochester Medical Center says a child may get his or her first pair of glasses as young as a few months of age, but health care providers who specialize in pediatric eye care say kids usually become nearsighted or farsighted between the ages of six and 12.

It’s recommended children have an eye screening before they enter school. In addition, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association recommends vision screening for all infants, preschoolers and school-aged children.

— Metro Creative