Despite the common misconception that most children have good eyesight thanks to their youth,
studies today are proving that ocular issues are on the rise among youths. To date, up to 20% of
kids have a refractive error. In reality, this number can be much higher since evidence suggests
that one in four children may go through childhood with an undiagnosed vision issue.
In many cases, people attribute ocular issues to illness. Case in point, one of our previous blog
entries explained how Lyme disease can trigger eye disorders. This includes things like
astigmatism, floaters, and minor double vision. Nowadays, though, another leading cause of such
concerns is the overuse of gadgets, which can cause eye strain and degradation. For children, in
particular, the digital age has led to excessive screen time, with everything from education to
entertainment conducted online. In fact, the average American child today clocks in up to seven
hours of screen time daily.
Thankfully, there are ways to protect your children’s eyes in the digital age without imposing an
outright screen ban. Here are a few of them:
Let them use protective eyewear
One of the main reasons screen time is detrimental to the eyes is the blue light that gadgets emit.
Although this visible lightwave, which can also come from the sun, has sleep- and mood-
regulating benefits in moderate doses, too much can cause deregulation. In terms of vision, it’s
potentially harmful because it can cause straining, fatigue, and even retinal damage. In order to
protect against this, consider getting blue light glasses for your children. Widely available with
and without prescriptions, retailer Eyebuydirect’s selection illustrates how these use special lens
coatings that can filter out the specific blue light wavelength between 400-455nm, which has
been connected to the aforementioned problems. Since these specs can be used indoors and
outdoors, they can help enhance your child’s visual comfort and acuity no matter what device
they’re on and where they may be using them.
Take them for regular eye exams
According to specialists, so many kids have undiagnosed eye conditions because they either don’t
know how to articulate what they’re feeling or simply think what they’re experiencing is normal.
In today's digital age, most kids are on devices for the majority of their day, and young children
in particular may be unlikely to know when their screen time starts causing them eye problems.
At the same time, they may feel embarrassed to say anything for fear of not seeming “normal” or
because they’re worried that their devices will be taken away. This is where regular eye exams
come in. Compared to school vision screenings, which many parents rely on, eye tests are much
more comprehensive. As a result, they can check everything from the retina to the optic nerve and
eye lens. This helps accurately track your child’s vision development, especially as they’re at the
age when their eyes are still growing. The good news is that these tests are easy to book through
chain outlets like Target Optical, so they won’t cost you much time or energy to set up.
Teach them eye exercises
When the eyes are set on a specific task for too long, they can become exhausted and less
comfortable working at other distances. Sadly, this is already manifesting in frequent screen users
who keep their eyes glued on a bright screen that’s held near their eyes for extended periods.
Among kids, specifically, too much screen time has been credited with the surge in pediatric
myopic diagnoses over the last few years. To curb this, teach your children eye exercises. Just
like the rest of the body, the eyes can benefit from exercise as it helps keep them functioning
more effectively and flexibly. One simple exercise they can try is the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20
minutes, they just have to focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This effectively
“stretches” the eyes, thereby helping release tension and encourage recovery.
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