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Safety at Play

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Sometimes it's difficult to know which toys are not harmful for our children's eyes.

Infants are born with an only partially developed visual system. There aren't many things that encourage a child's visual development more efficiently than play, which encourages hand-eye coordination and a deeper understanding of spatial relationships. Between the ages of 0-3 months, babies can't totally differentiate between colors, so simple black and white pictures are most engaging.

Children spend a large amount of time with their toys, so it's good for parents to know those toys are safe. A toy that is not age appropriate is usually not safe. Hand-in-hand with age appropriateness is to check that the toy is right for their developmental stage. Although toy manufacturers mention age and developmental appropriateness on toy packaging, as a parent, you still need to make the call, and be attentive, so that your son or daughter doesn't play with something that might be dangerous for them.

Toys should always be of decent quality, and not have parts that will break off. And if they're painted, make sure it's not with anything that might be toxic. It's important to let kids be active, but they need to learn to be on the look out for balls and swings or even swinging ropes that might hit the eye. This can cause a pretty serious injury like a corneal abrasion, or a sub-conjunctival hemorrhage, which is a popped blood vessel. Other times, the impact can manifest decades after the event, in the form of glaucoma or a premature cataract.

Don't buy toys with edges or sharp components for a young child, and be sure that things with long sticks, like pony sticks or toy brooms have rounded handles. Closely supervise toddlers when they play with such toys.

For kids below 6 years old, be wary of toys projectiles, such as dart guns. Even if a child is old enough to play with such toys, you still need to supervise kids playing with toys like that. On the other hand, if you have older kids who have chemistry sets or woodworking tools, always check that they have correct safety eyewear.

When you're next looking to buy gifts for a special occasion, keep a close eye out for the manufacturers' warning about the intended age group for the toy you had in mind. Be certain that toys you buy won't pose any harm to your child's eyes.

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Open Hours:

  • 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Closed

Friday and Saturday: Early appts available on request

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We are excited to welcome you back into our office!

We are currently open by appointment only for all services to reduce the number of people in the office. Please contact our office to get our soonest availability for an exam.

Due to COVID-19, we are taking precautions to ensure your safety and well being, as it remains our highest priority. Our staff is diligently adhering to CDC guidelines and other healthcare recommendations and required protocols.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Hung D. Mac, OD & Staff