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Protecting Your Child’s Eyes in a Digital World

by Youth Vision

Protecting Your Child’s Eyes in a Digital World

Reviewed By Dr. Jodi Kuhn

Reading time: 4 minutes

Reading time: four minutes.

In today’s digital age, it’s hard to imagine a day without screens.

From tablets and smartphones to laptops and gaming consoles, children are spending more time on electronic devices than ever before.

But why is screen time bad for kids? Let’s explore how excessive screen time can affect your child’s vision development and overall health—and what you can do to help.

Key Takeaway

Prolonged screen time strains eyes, disrupts sleep, and hinders child development. Encourage breaks, balance activities, and schedule regular eye exams to protect their vision and health.

Why Is Screen Time Bad for Kids?

Extended screen time has a range of negative effects on child development, including their vision, brain function, and physical health.

Here are the most pressing concerns:

  • Eye strain and vision issues: Hours on screens can lead to a condition called digital eye strain. Symptoms include dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. Clinical conditions such as computer vision syndrome can develop with prolonged use. Eye damage from cell phone use symptoms also include eye redness and difficulty focusing on objects at a distance.
  • Headaches and discomfort: Parents often ask, “Can too much screen time cause headaches?” Yes. Screen-related headaches are caused by prolonged focus on digital screens. What does a screen time headache feel like? Many children describe it as a dull ache around the eyes or forehead, often linked to underlying migraine-like symptoms or tension-type headaches.
  • Disrupted circadian rhythms: Digital devices emit blue light, which can interfere with sleep cycles, especially when used hours before bedtime. This can negatively impact brain development and contribute to clinical issues like insomnia and delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Negative Effects of Screen Time on Child Development

Screen time affects more than just the eyes. Here are some of the broader developmental concerns:

  • Reduced physical activity: Time spent on recreational screen time often replaces healthy habits like outdoor play and exercise, increasing the risk of childhood obesity.
  • Delayed social-emotional development: Excessive screen usage can reduce human interaction and hinder the development of critical social skills in school-aged children, sometimes contributing to conditions like social anxiety.
  • Impact on academic performance: While some educational content can be beneficial, too much time on screens can lead to distractions and lower focus.
  • Language and cognitive delays: Studies, including those published in JAMA Pediatrics, show that development in children, especially kids ages 2 and under, can be negatively affected by screen time. This is linked to delays in language development and issues with sensorimotor coordination.

Tips to Protect Your Child’s Eyes and Health

You can take simple steps to limit the negative impact of screen time and promote healthy eye development:

  • Follow screen time recommendations: The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no screen time for children under 18 months of age, except for video calls, and limits for older children.
  • Encourage breaks: Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This reduces the risk of accommodative spasm and binocular vision dysfunction.
  • Positioning screens properly: Make sure screens are at eye level and at least an arm’s length away to reduce eye strain and prevent postural issues like tech neck.
  • Promote alternative activities: Encourage activities like reading, outdoor play, or green time to balance the effects of screen media and lower the risk of sedentary behavior-related disorders.
  • Set boundaries around screen usage: Limit screen time hours per day, particularly during meals, family time, and the hours before bedtime.

Recognizing the Signs of Excessive Screen Time

Look out for these signs:

  • Complaints of headaches (convergence insufficiency) or difficulty focusing.
  • Persistent eye rubbing or blinking could indicate dry eye syndrome.
  • Difficulty falling asleep or waking up tired may be signs of circadian rhythm disorders.
  • Reduced interest in physical activities or social interactions.

The Role of Parents in Healthy Screen Habits

Parents play a key role in creating a balance.

Use parental controls to manage daily screen time and ensure children only access age-appropriate content. Monitor types of screen time to prioritize educational content over video gaming or online games.

Long-Term Considerations

While technology is here to stay, the goal is to use it wisely.

Numerous studies emphasize the importance of creating healthy screen time habits. By encouraging alternative activities and limiting screen exposure, you can help your child grow up with healthy eyes and a balanced life.

Schedule an Eye Exam for Your Child Today

If you are concerned about your child’s eyes or need guidance on screen habits, schedule an eye exam at any of our convenient locations.

Our eye doctors accept Medicaid and are experts in promoting healthy development for children of all ages.

Locations:

📍Denver: 1400 Grove Street, Denver, CO 80204, (303) 825-2295

📍Aurora: 14251 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011, (303) 343-3133

📍Thornton: 550 E. Thornton Parkway, Suite 240A, Thornton, CO 80229, (303) 953-8801

📍Hampden: 7400 East Hampden Ave. Unit C1, Denver, CO 80231, (720) 866-9906

Schedule an appointment today to keep your child’s vision healthy and strong in a digital world.

Learn more tips to protect your little one’s eyes:

🔗 Should Kids Wear Sunglasses?

🔗 When Should You Wear Blue Light Glasses?

🔗 Lazy Eye in Kids Explained