Tweens and Teens

What’s important in this stage of eye development is that your eyes stay healthy - good vision is vital for just about every activity you choose—and you want to keep your 20/20 vision for many years to come.

The AOA indicates, "Vision may change frequently during the school years. The most common problems are due to the development and progression of nearsightedness. In addition, the existence of eye focusing and/or eye coordination problems may affect school performance."  Did you know that one in every four students needs vision correction? If you're the one in four, you've probably been wearing glasses for a while. The real question is when is the right time to make the switch to contact lenses? This is the time to talk with your eye care professional and your parents about the contact lenses that are right for you, and the commitment involved in wearing and caring for your lenses—and your eyes—every day.

The single best way to check your eye health and protect your vision is through regular professional eye examinations. You may be at special risk for eye problems if there is a family history of eye disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or poor vision. In between examinations, if you notice a change in your vision or your eye is injured in any way talk with your parents and contact your doctor!

To help keep your eyes healthy, get plenty of rest, eat foods rich in antioxidants, take special care when applying make-up and hair spray, and—most of all—wash your hands often to help keep your eyes free of germs and bacteria that cause infections.

Teens are in the highest risk category for serious eye injuries, especially when playing racquet sports like tennis or racquetball. Always wear sports goggles or shields for proper eye protection.  Many goggles can actually improve your sports vision whether you need vision correction or not. New technology lenses give you the edge you need by reducing glare, enhancing contrast, and substantially reducing exposure to UVA and UVB rays.  To be competitive on the playing field you need peak performance from your entire body—and your eyes are no exception. Sports vision is "full­scope" primary eye care that can help you optimize key visual skills and get the edge you need.

The eye is an extremely complex organ, relying on an intricate interconnection of signals. Discover how the eye works then, see how it can play tricks on you.