In today’s world, children spend an excessive amount of time glued to screens; there has been an increasing concern about the potential harm it can cause to their visual development. Ophthalmologists, physicians who specialise in medical and surgical eye-care are finding a marked increase in children with dry eyes and eyestrain from too much screen time.
A point of contention is whether digital eyestrain causes lasting damage. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is providing parents with the facts, to enable them to make informed choices about their children’s eye health.
Today, myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a worldwide epidemic. Since 1971, cases of nearsightedness in the US have nearly doubled. In Asia, up to 90% of teenagers and adults are nearsighted. Clearly, something quite significant must have changed to cause such a drastic rise in the number of cases. However, scientists have been unable to arrive at a consensus about the exact reason for this rise.
In Ophthalmology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a new study has been published which offers further evidence that at least part of the worldwide increase in nearsightedness has to do with near-work activities which includes not just screens but also traditional books. The study says that spending time outdoors, especially in early childhood, can slow the progression of nearsightedness. But it remains unclear whether the rise in myopia is due to a general addiction to handheld devices such as Smartphones or to light interacting with our circadian rhythms to influence eye growth, or none of the above.
While scientists are looking for a definitive answer, there is no doubt that most computer users experience digital eyestrain. Children are not an exception and are no different from adults, when it comes to digital eyestrain. Doctors and parents have noted children experiencing dry eyes, eyestrain, headaches and blurry vision. While these symptoms are typically temporary, they might become frequent and persistent.
Parents should note that this does not mean their children would need a prescription for computer glasses or that they have developed an eye condition of middle-aged adults that requires reading glasses, as some suggest. It also doesn’t mean that the blue light coming from computer screens is damaging to their eyes. The study insists that these symptoms should be taken as hints that there should be more frequent breaks between screen-time. This is simply because we don’t blink as often as we should while using computers and other digital devices. Extended periods of reading, writing or other intensive near-work can also cause eyestrain. The ophthalmologists in the study recommend taking a 20 second break from near work every 20 minutes.
Parents can help protect their children’s eyes from damage simply by making sure that they follow a few basic rules. They should encourage kids to look up and out of the window every once in a while, when reading, playing a video game or using a computer screen. Also, encourage your child to hold digital devices, ideally, 18 to 24 inches away from the face. Most importantly, remind your child to blink when staring at a television or computer screen.
“I prefer to teach kids better habits, instead of supplying them a crutch like reading glasses to enable them to consume even more media,” said Dr K David Epley, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “If you run too far and your legs start hurting, you stop. Likewise, if you’ve been reading too long or watching videos too long and your eyes start hurting, you should stop.”
