Whether you’re using digital devices for your child’s learning or entertainment, it’s important to know how prolonged screen use can affect their vision. Remember that children’s eyes are still developing, so the effect of digital screens can be different for them.
In this post, a trusted optometrist at Eyes on Norbeck discusses the impact of prolonged screen time on children’s eyes.
Eye Fatigue
The symptoms of eye fatigue can get worse if your child is viewing screens in a dim or poorly lit environment. This causes them to squint, which strains the muscles around their eyes more easily. Eye fatigue can lead to concentration difficulties and cause headaches around the temples and eyes.
Dry Eye
Digital screens provide excessive visual stimulation. Engrossed with what they’re watching, young children can forget blinking, which is crucial to keeping the eyes lubricated. If your child does not blink too much while watching on digital devices, this can lead to dry eye syndrome. If you suspect your child has symptoms of dry eye, you can bring them to an eye doctor for a computer vision exam.
Blurred Vision
Staring at a digital screen for an extended time can cause the eye’s focusing system to spasm. Accommodation spasm is a condition that causes a child’s vision to blur when they look away from the screen.
Reducing your child’s screen time is a good start to relieving and preventing these eye symptoms. That said, encourage your child to play outdoors more frequently and teach them to take breaks when using digital devices.
Make sure to pay attention to your child’s eye health and help them develop good eye habits. To know if they need to wear eyeglasses or simply get an update on how their eyes are developing, the eye specialists at Eyes on Norbeck can help you. Set your appointment today by calling (301) 238-7199 or filling out this contact form. We proudly serve patients of all ages in Rockville, MD.
