Is screen time making your kids nearsighted?

(NC) As parents, caregivers and educators gear up for the back-to-school season with new school supplies and new learning adventures, one growing concern stands out: the potential harmful effects of excessive screen time on children. With digital devices becoming an essential part of both education and leisure, it’s important to understand how prolonged exposure to screens can impact young minds and bodies.

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is the need for glasses to see at a distance. From an eye-health perspective, the development of myopia in children is a growing issue worldwide. There is evidence that the more time children spend reading up close – whether that is on smartphones, tablets, books or doing homework – and the less time they spend outside, the higher the risk of myopia.

In the past two years, four-in-ten Canadians reported that their child experienced one or more symptoms around their eyes and vision – with the leading factor being screen time, according to a survey by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Some of the symptoms from overusing screen time include: eye irritation (dry eyes, itchy eyes, red eyes), blurred vision, headaches, backaches, neck aches and muscle fatigue.

Here are four ways to protect children’s eyes during screen time use:

1. Use the 20/20/20 rule. For every 20 minutes that you spend on the screen, look at least 20 feet in the distance for at least 20 seconds.
2. Sometimes, people who have difficulty with near focus can develop eye strain from looking at a small screen too closely, such as when reading a book or magazine. Wearing appropriate prescription glasses can help with this.
3. Limit near-screen time (closer than 30 cm) and spend more time outside, as natural light helps reset the eyes.
4. Ensure regular vision screenings to assess for myopia and get treatment if needed.

Find more resources and information on eye health at seethepossibilities.ca.