It was hard enough to get kids away from their electronic devices when they were only using them for games. Now that online learning has become the norm, there is an even greater need to assess the effect all that screen time may be having on your kid’s eyes. Fortunately, if you implement an effective plan you can ensure that their eyes remain healthy while they’re learning.
Parents and guardians have been warning their children to step away from their electronic devices for years. The good news is that the doctors agree. Studies show that electronic screens can place a tremendous strain on the eyes. That’s because the eyes aren’t meant to spend so much time staring at the same location.
The consequences of staring at a screen all day usually include eye strain or fatigue, dry eyes, and blurry vision. There might be long-term effects such as chronic ocular irritation. Some kids may even develop a condition known as blepharospasms, which is characterized by excessive blinking and facial tics.
To make things worse, getting too much screen time close to bedtime can disrupt your kid’s sleep cycle. That means their eyes will get even less rest than they need.
These five tips form the backbone of what health experts recommend for parents and guardians who need to limit the negative effect of screen time. While using them as a guide, you can tailor a program that works best for you.
To combat the effects of staring at the screen for a while, follow the 20/20/20 rule. That entails looking away from the device every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at something that is a minimum of 20 feet away. Some doctors also recommend incorporating a 30/30/30 rule, which follows the same principle.
Even with the breaks, it’s best to get your child to go do something else. As soon as it’s possible, encourage them to walk away from the device. The break can include a nap or some form of physical activity. Either one has its benefits.
Your kid’s eyes have a hard enough time with the device’s unrelenting screen light, having them sit in harsh lighting only makes things worse. The glare from a bright bulb, especially one that is located right behind the child puts eyes under pressure. Natural lighting or close to it is better. Doctors also advise against using electronic devices in complete darkness.
To avoid eye strain, you need to consider the distance and position of the device. Ideally, it should be lower than your kid’s line of vision as having to look up at the screen can dry their eyes out even faster.
Additionally, the larger the screen is, the farther away it should be. Mobile phones and tablets should be a foot away while laptops or desktops should be two feet away.
One reason prolonged screen time results in dry eyes is that kids are less likely to blink when using a device. As your kid is using their device, remind them to blink.
It’s not the easiest thing to do but with practice, they’ll remember that persons normally blink up to 21 times per minute.
In many cases, taking the recommended measures to protect your kid’s eyes and maintaining an annual check-up schedule should be enough.
However, if you’re seeing signs of chronic dry eyes, continuous twitching, or your child is complaining of pain, it might be time to give your doctor a call.
For kids that wear glasses, it will be important to confirm with the doctor if they need to have their vision re-assessed more frequently.
While electronic devices have become a vital part of the educational system, the concerns about the kids’ vision are still valid. To keep your kid’s eyes healthy, make a plan to use these tips daily. It might be hard to make the changes initially but keep at it. In time, everyone will get used to it.
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