by Geoff Bradford
With virtual classrooms as part of the regular school week for many children now, parents may understandably be concerned with the amount of screen time their children get and its effects on their eyes. Much can be read about how long periods of screen time can be dangerous for children’s eyes. Fortunately, with some insights and prudent parent-directed guidance, students can continue to thrive with healthy eyes and with their education online.
For school-age children, long periods of time on digital screens may cause some uncomfortable effects, namely blurred, dry, achy or tired eyes. Yet these symptoms are little different from the way eyes feel with reading, writing or other prolonged close activities. Nor from the way our tired legs feel after a long walk. Tips to relieve a child’s eyes include regular short breaks away from the screen and blinking several times to remoisten the eyes.
A good rule of thumb is “20-20-20”: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This allows the eyes to rest sufficiently and allows the student to continue online educational tasks until they are completed. An over-the-counter bottle of artificial tears from the pharmacy may also help. Using these methods, most children do not need “computer glasses” for schoolwork as adults may often wear.
Other beneficial adjustments include increasing the print font size, reducing the screen brightness and increasing the contrast on the screen. Adjusting the screen to reduce glare from a nearby light or window, or using a glare filter from a computer store, can help as well. Another good rule for comfortable viewing is “1-2-10”: Place phone screens a foot away, computer screens two feet away and televisions 10 feet away.
If a teenager is wearing contact lens, giving the eyes a break by wearing glasses may help. Avoid sleeping in contacts, even if they are approved to be worn overnight. Clean the lenses daily and discard disposable lenses as recommended.
While there is some concern that screen time may lead to nearsightedness, this is not yet proven. Nor has it been shown that blue light from computers damages the eyes. On the other hand, research has shown that 1) playing outdoors more in regular sunlight may prevent nearsightedness; and 2) blue light exposure in the evenings can make it harder to fall asleep. Stop screen time an hour before bedtime so students are ready for the next school day.
Finally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that screen time for entertainment purposes be avoided in all children younger than
18-24 months and that only educational programs on TV or computers be permitted for these youngsters. For children 2-5 years of age, limit screen time to one hour a day of only educational programing, with parents helping children understand what they are viewing. For children over 5 years of age, a 2-hour limit for entertainment screen time is recommended.
Research is showing that obesity rates climb when children are on screens for prolonged periods and not physically active. Moreover, violent screen content can lead to behavioral symptoms, and prolonged time alone on a screen with a lack of interactive play with other children may impair a child’s social development. Finally, for young children, absent extreme circumstances, parents should avoid using TV, iPad or phone screens as a regular tactic to calm a distraught child, as this strategy, used frequently, may lead to problems with setting limits for a child or prevent him from developing his own ability to calm himself.
In summary, young, healthy children have an exceptional ability to focus their eyes without eyestrain, but when ocular symptoms arise, parents have effective tools to help children get through a virtual school day and thrive during this challenging school year. Prudent limitations on screen time and content for entertainment purposes can further help children develop emotionally and socially into the terrific kids all parents wish for. If concerns persist despite these strategies, parents should seek advice from their pediatrician to help maximize their student’s success at school this year.
Geoff Bradford is a professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics as well as the vice chair of education and program director in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at West Virginia University’s School of Medicine in Morgantown.
