I have a vested interest in children’s vision. Not only was I a very nearsighted child, depending on the Lion’s Club for my first pair of glasses at the age of eleven (and, until then, walking around in a constant squint); I also have a very nearsighted preschooler myself, who had to have eye surgery when she was just two months old. Keeping glasses on her at ten months was quite a feat!

And I know we’re not alone; vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers and 1 in 4 school-aged children. It’s very important to get eye problems diagnosed at an early age to prevent regression and help children learn to read, write and generally learn better. It’s pretty hard to do these things when you can’t see. Here are some tips in taking charge of your child’s vision this month:

Book that eye exam. It’s never too early, or too late, to have your children’s eyes examined—especially if there is a family history of eye issues. Whether your little boy or girl is a year old or ten years old, if he or she needs glasses, it’s best to get them now.

If you can’t afford glasses, get help. My parents went to the Lion’s Club, as I mentioned above, but there are a number of organizations that can help, such as Sight for Students.

Test your baby’s eyes every once in a while. Even if he or she had good vision at the last check-up, it never hurts to check to see how well his or her eyes are following objects. If you note anything out of the ordinary, such as an eye traveling, crossing or not being able to follow objects slowly moved in front of his or her face, be sure to tell your pediatrician immediately.

Protect your child’s eyes. This may sound very basic, but wearing protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses or shields is pretty important if your child is playing sports. Keep sharp or shooting toys that pose a hazard to eyes out of reach of younger children. For older children who may do woodworking projects or other construction work, be sure to make them wear protective safety glasses as well.

Do the patching. If your ophthalmologist says your child needs a patch, go for it. It will be hard and not so pretty, but in the long run you will probably be grateful you did. Our daughter’s vision improved so much through patching that she had her prescription cut in half once, and cut again on our last visit.