Table of Contents
- Why Kids Are More Vulnerable to Digital Eye Strain
- Common Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain in Children
- Long-Term Risks of Untreated Eye Strain
- Prevention Tips for Parents and Caregivers
- Digital Eye Strain Treatment Options
- Can Digital Eye Strain Be Cured?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
In this age of the digital world, sitting in front of a screen for a long time is a common occurrence. Undoubtedly, extended screen time for work or entertainment has become a norm for children as well.
Although technology has made our lives convenient, it has resulted in numerous health challenges in kids, including digital eye strain. This condition is medically known as computer vision syndrome or digital vision syndrome.
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), computer vision syndrome (CVS) or digital eye strain is “a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged usage of computers, tablets, e-readers, and cell phones, which causes increased stress to near vision in particular”.
In this article, we will explore the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and preventive measures to take, and various treatment options available for curing digital eye strain in kids.
Why Kids Are More Vulnerable to Digital Eye Strain
According to the Vision Council, during a medical survey, at least 70% of adults have reported that their children have a screen exposure time of at least 2 hours before sleep.
Owing to the fast adoption of technology in every aspect of our lifestyle, including education, kids are growing more dependent on computers, laptops, or any digital screen for completing their activities, be it attending lessons, playing video games, or simply watching their favourite shows.
Medical experts explain that children are more prone to this condition because their eyes are still in a maturing stage, making them more sensitive to bright lights and screens.
Another contributing factor includes reduced blink rates. When engrossed in an online game or attending a lesson, children tend to blink less than adults, which results in dry eyes, causing more discomfort. Additionally, they tend to hold any device closer to their faces, which puts added pressure on the eyes.
Now that we have understood the causes that can lead to digital eye strain in children, let’s have a look at the common symptoms one should watch out for.
Common Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain in Children
Before diving into the various treatment options, let’s have a look at the common digital eye strain symptoms in children:
- Frequent eye rubbing: This is the first sign that develops due to prolonged usage of any screen, both in adults and children.
- Blurred or double vision: The inability to see objects on- and off-screen is a clear indication of digital eye strain.
- Dry, irritated, or red eyes: Due to reduced blinking rate, eyes often tend to get dry, which can result in an irritating sensation.
- Headaches and neck pain: Poor posture while sitting in front of a computer or laptop during lessons can result in headaches and neck pain.
- Difficulty focusing after screen time: Children often complain that they are unable to focus properly after using any digital device for long hours.
It’s important to note here that the above-mentioned symptoms are commonly reported amongst patients. Depending on the extent of the condition, each person may experience it differently. The onus for looking out for any signs/symptoms in children relies heavily on their parents or caregivers.
Long-Term Risks of Untreated Eye Strain
Although digital eye strain is a common condition, it increases the risk of other eye conditions. Some of these are explained below:
- Increased risk of myopia (short-sightedness): Several reports indicate that there has been a significant increase in the number of myopic cases in children globally. Experts add that one of the contributing factors to the same could be digital eye strain.
- Poor academic performance: Experts believe that overexposure to the lights of the screen often hampers the attention span of children, especially during online lessons, which in turn can lead to poor academic performance.
- Fatigue and concentration issues: Continuous eye strain leads to poor sleeping cycles that can further lead to reduced concentration and persistent body fatigue during the day.
- Behavioral changes: Prolonged eye strain generally reduces human productivity. This can contribute to behavioral changes, including unwillingness to eat or sleep properly.
Prevention Tips for Parents and Caregivers
As discussed earlier, digital eye strain is primarily caused due to prolonged exposure to digital screens. Hence, there are some preventive measures that you can ask your children to follow to cut down on the same. Some of these include:
- Following the 20-20-20 rule: While your child is watching TV or staring at the smartphone for too long, remind them to take 20 feet away for 20 seconds
Every 20 minutes. - Maintaining proper screen distance (at least 18–24 inches): It’s important to educate your children about the importance of maintaining proper screen distance while looking at any screen.
Additionally, reminding them at regular intervals to keep a proper distance while they are sitting in front of the TV or a laptop is essential in reducing strain on the eyes. - Encouraging good posture and lighting: Maintaining proper posture in a well-lit environment while working on a screen can reduce the strain on the eyes considerably.
In addition to this, parents can create proper work settings, including an adjustable chair that can help their children sit comfortably with their feet on the ground. - Using anti-glare screens or blue light filters: Parents should adjust the display settings of the digital devices to reduce unwanted pressure on the eyes. They can also use anti-glare screens or enable blue light filters for more protection.
- Ensuring frequent eye checkups: Take your children to an eye specialist for regular checkups every 3-6 months to prevent the condition from worsening.
Digital Eye Strain Treatment Options
In cases where the patient is feeling extreme uneasiness due to eye strain caused by overexposure to digital devices, it’s best to consult an eye specialist at the earliest.
Here are some of the treatment options available that are recommended by doctors:
- Use lubricating eye drops: Put eye drops to prevent the eyes from drying up at regular intervals, as prescribed by the doctor.
- Provide glasses with anti-reflective or blue-blocking coatings: If your child is in the habit of sitting in front of devices for long hours, give them glasses with anti-reflective or blue-blocking coatings.
- Adjusting screen brightness and contrast: Adjust the font size, color, and brightness of the devices your kids are using. Switch to ‘warm’ colors that can help lessen the strain on the eyes.
- Limiting screen exposure time: In order to cut down on the screen time of your children, schedule outdoor activities to keep them engaged. This will provide your children’s eyes with the much-needed break from screens.
Can Digital Eye Strain Be Cured?
On one hand, digital eye strain is a condition reversible in nature if you can encourage your kids to take proper preventive measures and adopt proper viewing habits. On the other hand, several doctors believe that there can be lasting changes in vision if left untreated for a long time. Also, a prolonged issue can indicate a more serious, underlying issue, including presbyopia or astigmatism.
Hence, it’s better to seek professional help that can offer proper options, such as corrective lenses or specialized treatments for a full recovery.
Conclusion
To sum it up, it’s vital to understand that managing screen time is essential for children’s visual health. You can prevent prolonged digital eye strain in your kids and, eventually, any long-term damage with proper preventive measures and regular pediatric eye exams.
However, if your children are frequently rubbing their eyes or complaining of itchy eyes, it is important to seek medical help.
