166 w h y c h i l d r e n l o s e t h e i r v i s i o n a n d w h a t w e c a n d o
Other ways to prevent blindness
Keep your children’s eyes clean. When
their eyes are infected or have pus,
clean them often with a clean cloth
wet with clean water. Anyone with an
eye infection should try to see a health
worker.
Eyes should not be touched if you or
your child has a cold sore anywhere.
The infection that causes cold sores
can cause blindness if it gets into the eye.
Wipe each eye from the corner of
the eye by the nose to the corner of
the eye by the ear. Use a different
part of the cloth to clean each eye.
Women need to take special
care of themselves when they
are pregnant. They need to have
enough good food to eat. A
health worker can help pregnant
women learn how to:
• stay healthy
• prevent blindness in their
babies by staying away from
people with German measles
(rubella)
• avoid using certain medicines
Health workers should promote
breastfeeding so women can pass
nutrition and immunities to their
children through their breast milk.
Health workers can also try
to get all children vaccinated
against infectious diseases like
measles (rubeola) and German
measles (rubella).
helping children who are blind