Can Too Much Screen Time Affect Your Child’s Eye Health?

A main concern we hear from parents is if their child’s screen time could negatively impact their vision or health in general. Our answer is yes, potentially. Too much screen time can affect both children and adults, so it’s important to monitor how long your child spends in front of their screens, and ensure they spend enough time away from them too. 

In this blog post, we will be discussing the importance of lessening your child’s screen time, as well as offering solutions to combat this issue. Here at R Woodfall, our number one priority is caring for our patients eye health, if you have any concern about your child’s vision or your own, please get in touch any time.

Digital eye strain 

Prolonged exposure to digital screens such as tablets, smartphones, and computer screens can cause symptoms of digital eye strain in both children and adults. The symptoms of digital eye strain are as follows: dry eyes, blurry vision, headaches, and watery eyes. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child it could mean that they’re experiencing digital eye strain, and it’s important to reduce their screen time and take them to an optician to seek professional advice. 

Difficulty sleeping 

Another problem that you may notice is your child having problems sleeping at night. If your child is spending too much time looking at digital screens, they will be exposed to a lot of blue light, which can affect their circadian rhythms. If your sleep/wake cycle is disturbed, it can result in difficulty sleeping or staying asleep during the night. 

Limiting screen time to the recommended time limit for your child’s age, and taking the screen away at least an hour before bedtime can solve this problem. 

Poor posture 

Although not particularly affecting the eyes, using digital devices often involves children developing poor posture. This is because children are usually seen hunching over a smartphone or tablet. This can lead to neck and back pain, causing more problems. 

How we can help

Taking your child to the optician every now and then is always beneficial. Our professional eye care providers can help assess your child’s eyes and treat any issues that may arise.

If your child is suffering from digital eye strain then It may be worth opting for blue light filtration lenses, which helps to block out the blue light emitted from digital devices. For more information about our services, feel free to contact our team any time.

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