World Sight Day 2022: Eight Ways To Protect Your Kids Eyes From Screen Exposure

A couple of decades back, screen time, especially for children, used to be minimal. Over the past 20 years, more children have required glasses and have had impaired vision.

A study from Singapore proved that higher incidence of refractive error in children is due to excessive screen time. [Image used for representational purpose only]

Source : Getty

By Dr Saurabh Choudhry 

Our lives have all been significantly altered by COVID-19. Every aspect of our sense of normalcy is reinvented. However, one point cannot be overlooked: we are all aware of the negative effects that staring at a screen can have on the eyes, particularly in young children. Long-term screen use can frequently cause eye strain, redness, dryness, itchy eyes, headaches, and impaired vision.

A couple of decades back, screen time, especially for children, used to be minimal. Over the past 20 years, more children have required glasses and have had impaired vision.

A landmark study from Singapore proved that the higher incidence of refractive error in children is due to excessive screen time, lack of exercise, minimal sunlight exposure, and poor dietary habits, all of which are a part of our lifestyle, especially after the pandemic.

Eight Ways To Protect Children's Eye From Screen Exposure:

1. Try Limit Screen Time

Screen time is part of today's culture. Screen usage has several potentially negative consequences for children, ranging from newborns to late teenagers and even young adults. Children who spend too much time in front of a screen may also experience additional issues such as inadequate sleep or weight gain.

When it comes to using a screen, children have a lot fewer restrictions today. School-aged children should limit their daily screen time to no more than an hour or two, excluding homework.

2. Taking Frequent Breaks (Follow 20:20 Rule)

Reading, writing, or staring at a screen increases the demand on the eyes' microscopic focusing system, the eyes need a break to reset their focusing systems. Breaking from screen work every 20 minutes for 20 seconds to gaze 20 feet away without focusing on anything.

During this process, the eyes can relax and return to their natural position and baseline settings. Consider using a timer to encourage kids to take breaks, especially when they are engrossed in a game or movie.

3. Encourage Outdoor Sports/Exposure To Sunlight

Whatever they enjoy doing outside, your kids will benefit from outdoor play for their physical and emotional well-being. Additionally, they will lessen the negative effects of excessive screen time. So, turn off your electronics, put on some sunscreen, and go outside.

4. Regular Eye Checkups

Children should have regular eye checkups from the age of two years and should be examined annually. Regular examinations can pick up on several pediatric eye issues early on. In this manner, the problem's solution can be identified and put into practice as soon as possible.

Regular eye exams are one of the best ways to ensure that children's eye care is emphasized along with other areas of their health.

5. Correct Posture

Maintain an arm's length and a downward angle from the child's face; maintain a straight back. Make sure your eyes are level with the very top of your display and that the screen is 20 to 30 inches away from your face. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should be gazing down at your work screen. The screen's centre should be between 15 and 20 degrees below the user's horizontal eye level.

6. Appropriate lighting

Avoid using the screen outdoors or in brightly lit areas. The screen's brightness shouldn't be lighter or darker than the room's ambient light. The eyes will be under pressure either way. The brightness of the screen should be adjusted to match the ambient light.

7. A Nutritious Diet And Regular Exercise

Your child's eye health can be improved by several foods. Think about consuming foods that are high in zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, C, and E.

Along with a healthy diet, your child should also exercise frequently. Exercise keeps the body's blood and oxygen flowing properly, which is crucial for eye health.

8. No Screen Time Until The Age Of Two; Thereafter, It Should Be Limited

Early childhood is a time of rapid development and can be improved upon by changing family lifestyle habits. Children under the age of two shouldn't be exposed to screens at all.

The author is CEO of ICARE Eye Hospital at Noida, one of Delhi-NCR’s oldest and largest NABH-accredited eye hospitals, established in 1993.