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With Christmas around the corner, eye care will be the last thing on many youngsters' minds. However, the cold weather and potentially hazardous Christmas gifts mean that parents need to make sure children are looking after their eyes, especially if they already wear glasses or kids' contact lenses.
Everyone dreams of a white Christmas, but cold weather and snow over the festive season will mean that children who wear kids' contact lenses could find their eyes drying out and becoming uncomfortable. Some experts even advise that contact lens wearers avoid being outside as much as possible in bad weather.
Ortho k contact lenses, which are worn overnight, could be the perfect solution, allowing children to play outside to their heart's content.
However, it is not just the weather that can irritate youngsters' eyes over the Christmas period. It is vital that parents bear in mind that some toys their children receive over the festive period could pose a risk to their eyes.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises that a serious eye injury from toys such as pellet guns, darts or paintball guns can spoil the festive season and damage kids' vision permanently.
"It's important for parents to choose a toy that is appropriate for their child's age, abilities, and the parents' willingness to supervise use of the toy," the body's clinical correspondent David Wheeler commented.
He suggested that if children are given a potentially dangerous gift, parents should supervise them when using it and ensure they are wearing appropriate safety goggles.
Dr Wheeler added that any gifts of sports equipment should come complete with protective eyewear as sports-related incidents account for thousands of eye injuries each year.
For children who are short sighted, parents may consider buying special prescription goggles, however,
Ortho k contact lenses provide an easy-to-use alternative, correcting vision over night and meaning that children are able to wear normal safety glasses the next day.
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By Julia Paris
