Before 3 | HealthyEyesWa.org

All ‘eye doctors’ are NOT the same. (…ophthalmologists are the only eye care providers medically trained to diagnose and treat all eye diseases. Optometrists and opticians provide some aspects of eye care and are not medical doctors.)

Reading in dim light is NOT harmful to your eyes (...though good lighting does make reading easier and can prevent eye fatigue.)

Using computers does NOT damage your eyes (...though you may blink less which makes your eyes dry. This could cause the feeling of eyestrain or fatigue.)

Wearing the wrong kind of eyeglasses does NOT damage your eyes. (...but children younger than 8 who need glasses should wear their own to prevent developing “lazy eye.”)

Children do NOT simply outgrow crossed or misaligned eyes (...Children with this condition should be examined by an ophthalmologist.)

Learning disabilities are NOT caused by eye problems. (...though children who are having difficulties with school work should be checked to make sure they can see well.)

Sitting close to the television does NOT damage children’s eyes. (...however, some children with nearsightedness may sit close to the TV to see more clearly.)

Eating carrots does NOT improve your vision. (...a well-balanced diet, with or without carrots, provides all the vitamin A necessary for good vision.)

People with weak eyes or who wear glasses do NOT need to avoid reading fine print. (...you can use your eyes without fear of wearing them out.)

Wearing eyeglasses will NOT cause you to become dependent on them. (...you will just get used to seeing clearly.)

A cataract does NOT need to be ‘ripe’ before it is removed. (...it can be removed whenever it begins to interfere with a person’s lifestyle.)

Contact lenses do NOT prevent nearsightedness from getting worse. (...like glasses, they just allow you to see clearly.)

Eyes can NOT be transplanted. (...corneas, the clear front part of the eye, can be transplanted, but not the whole eye)

Eye Care Timeline Before 3

Most children have healthy eyes and normal vision, but a few babies are born with serious disorders or diseases. Your pediatrician will thoroughly examine your baby at well-baby checkups, but if you notice any of the following, you should bring your child to the doctor soon.

White pupil

Lump swelling or drooping of lid

Large cornea

Tearing, discharge or redness

Eye turns inward or outward

“Dancing Eyes”

Head tilted to one shoulder, forward (chin down) or to one side

Pupil defect (part of the iris is missing)

Unequal pupils