Reasons to give your child’s eyes a break from screens

Children are spending more time than ever looking at digital screens – computers, tablets, TVs, smartphones and other devices. All that screen time can take a toll on children’s well-being, including the well-being of their eyes.

Research shows that children begin to focus their gaze on digital devices, such as their parents’ tablets or smartphones, from as early as 6 months of age. By the time they reach adolescence, children spend almost 7 hours a day using devices with screens, watching television, playing video games and using social media.

Especially if they are having fun, children may continue playing and watching to the point of rubbing their eyes from exhaustion.

This does not include the additional time they spend using screens at school or doing homework.

Why it’s important to take a break from screens

MStaring at a screen for long periods of time without breaks can cause symptoms such as:

• 
  Eye fatigue. The muscles around the eyes, like any other muscles, can become tired from continued use. Focusing on a screen for long periods of time can cause concentration difficulties and headaches centered around the temples and eyes. Children may also use screens where the lighting is not ideal, causing squinting fatigue.

• 
  Blurry vision. Staring at the same distance for a long time can cause the eye’s focusing system to temporarily spasm or “lock up.” This condition, called accommodation spasm, causes a child’s vision to blur when he or she looks up from the screen. Some studies also suggest that computer use and other indoor activities may promote higher levels of nearsightedness (difficulty seeing in the distance) among children, although this is not proven. Playing outdoors for longer periods of time may help promote healthier vision development in children.

• 
  Dry eyes. Studies show that people blink much less frequently when focused on a digital screen, which can leave eyes dry and irritated. Using desktop and laptop computers can be particularly problematic for children’s eyes, because they are often higher up in their field of vision than, say, a book. As a result, the upper eyelids tend to open more, speeding up the evaporation of the eye’s tear film.

What parents can do:

• 
  Monitor screen time. He
  plan for digital consumption of the family The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and related reports point to problems ranging from obesity to sleep issues linked to too much screen time. While children’s screen time is known to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AAP recommends that parents do what they can to maintain some balance between the real world and the digital world. Two important areas to make sure screens don’t interfere with are:

• 
  Dream. When you don’t get enough sleep, your eyes feel tired and sore. The AAP recommends that children not sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including TVs, computers, and smartphones. Additionally, the AAP recommends avoiding screen exposure for 1 hour before bedtime. Device use after bedtime, especially
  video game or violent programs, can affect sleep. Studies also suggest that the blue light emitted by screens could make it difficult to fall asleep.

• 
  Exercise. Putting down your device or stepping away from the computer or TV can help prevent eye and vision problems caused by too much screen time. The AAP recommends that children aged 6 and older do at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The active game It is the best exercise for young children. Playing outdoors can be a great exercise for children’s vision, as it gives them the chance to focus on different distances and be exposed to natural light.

• 
  Take frequent breaks. Often children are so absorbed in what they are doing that they do not notice the symptoms of eye strain. Remind them to take breaks. The American Optometric Association recommends that 20/20/20 rule (in English): Look away from the screen every 20 minutes and focus on an object at least 20 feet (6 meters) away for a minimum of 20 seconds. In addition, children should be away from the screen for at least 10 minutes every hour. A simple timer can help your child remember, and there are even software programs that can help by turning off the screen at regular intervals.

• 
  Remember to blink. Research published in The New England Journal of Medicine says that staring at a computer can cut blinking rates in half and cause dry eyes. Encourage your child to blink extra, especially when taking a break. Your pediatrician or ophthalmologist may recommend moisturizing drops or the use of a room humidifier if your child continues to experience discomfort from dry eyes.

• 
  Screen position. Make sure your child’s desktop or laptop screen is slightly below eye level. Looking up at screens opens the eyes more and dries them out faster. Some experts suggest positioning device screens based on the 1/2/10 rule: ideally 1 foot (30.5 cm) away for cell phones, 2 feet (61 cm) away for desktop devices and laptops, and 10 feet (3 meters) or so for TV screens (depending on how big the screen is). Adjusting the font size, especially on smaller screens, so that it’s twice as large as your child can comfortably read can also help reduce eye strain.

• 
  Emphasis on lightingTo reduce glare and eye strain, consider the lighting level in a room when using a computer or other screen. Ideally, it should be about half of what it would be for other activities such as writing on paper or doing crafts. Try to position computers so that light from uncovered windows, lamps, and light fixtures does not reflect directly onto the screens. Reduce screen brightness to a level that is more comfortable for your eyes. Some optometrists recommend special computer glasses with orange lenses that also help reduce glare. Anti-reflective coatings can also be added to prescription glasses for children who wear them. Screen covers or filters are also an option.

• 
  HaMake regular check-up appointments with the ophthalmologistIf your child has blurred vision or similar vision problems, he or she may not say so. This is why eye exams are important.
  vision exams The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that your child’s pediatrician perform eye exams at every well-child visit beginning at birth. If a problem is discovered during one of these routine exams, your pediatrician will likely refer you to a
  pediatric ophthalmologist.

Remember:

Children, especially younger ones, will likely need help reminding them about the proper use of screen devices for eye care.

If you have questions about how to keep your child’s eyes and vision healthy, talk to your pediatrician.

Additional Information: