Managing Screen Time to Safeguard Children’s Eye Health
Screens are an integral part of life in this modern digital age, and children seem to spend most of their times either learning online or getting entertained through those. Kids spend hours on screen time and that eventually impacts their eye health along with their overall well-being. A wide array of vision-related disorders comes as a consequence of excessive usage, and proper steps must be taken by parents.
In today’s blog, we will discuss the importance of managing screen time, how it affects the health of children's eyes, and also provides you with practical tips for good vision maintenance. We also look at professional eye care in Abu Dhabi and how visiting an optometrist regularly can makes all the difference to protect your child's eye.
The Impact of screen use on children's eyes
Children's eyes take longer to develop and are, therefore, more susceptible to the adverse effects of screen exposure. The increased use of devices including phones, tablets, computers, and television means that the eye has been subjected to rising cases of eye strain and various other issues. The common issues found with this long screen time include the following:
Digital Eye Strain (Computer Vision Syndrome)
Digital Eye Strain, or Computer Vision Syndrome, is caused by prolonged use of digital devices. Symptoms include blurry vision, eye strain, headache, and failing to focus on distant objects for people who are working on a computer screen for a long period of time.
Myopia or Nearsightedness
The rise in myopia among children is on an increasing trend, and it has always been a concern. Numerous studies have proved that too much time spent watching screens and inadequate outdoor exposure may be some of the reasons that are leading the way towards myopia. Children who spend several hours on their screens without intervals are highly likely to become near-sighted during early years.
Dry Eyes
Exposure to screens for an extended period lowers the rate of blinking and creates a dry, irritable condition in the eyes. Most children do not complain of pains; however, dry eyes could cause permanent harm if left unattended.
Sleep Disturbances
The use of screens causes exogenous exposures leading to blue light that hinders the production of melatonin that is a hormone that regulates sleep cycles. If mobiles are used near bedtime, then it can lead to poor quality of sleep that affects not only their eyes but their general well-being as well. Eye-related problems in children are on the rise, and hence there is a pressing need to adopt diverse measures to protect their vision and healthy habits of using the screens.
Tips for Control and Protection of Children's Eye Health while Using Screen
Proper management of screen time assures the prevention of many causes, like eye strain. Here are some guidelines for parents, which can be adopted for protection of their children's eye health:
Apply the 20-20-20 Rule
The 20-20-20 rule is a great way to help with eye strain. Whenever you remind your child of something, remind them to look at something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This simple pause will have the muscles of the eyes relax and prevent fatigue with improved concentration.
Proper Lighting
Brighten up the room when your child uses a digital device. Do not place screens in dark spaces as that can exert more pressure on a child's eyes. Adequate lighting can make all the difference and might even reduce the possibility of adopting a vision problem.
Monitor Screen Time
The best way to maintain your child's eye health is through setting time limits for screens. According to experts, children under two to five years should have no more than one hour of screen time per day. For older children, a break after every 30-60 minutes helps in giving time to rest their eyes and can avoid eye strain.
Encourage Outdoor Activities
Spending too much time outdoors is recommended to reduce the chances of getting myopia. Tell your kids to play more time outdoors so that they love fresh air and limit screen time for their eyes for overall well-being. Sunlight exposure aids to preserve the body's circadian rhythm, and improve sleep patterns.
Screen-Free Zone
Designate certain areas in your home, like your dining area or bedroom as no-screen zones. This way, healthy boundaries are established between screen time and other activities while reducing the amount of exposure all along. This is one of the things you might do to adjust screen settings.
Adjusting the screen settings can also prove helpful in minimizing strain. Increase the text size and brightness in your child's device to comfortable levels. Dimming the blue light setting can be especially helpful in the evening hours.
Regular Eye Check-ups
One of the best ways to ensure your child's eyes are healthy is to schedule regular eye exams with an optometrist in UAE. Early detection of potential eye problems can prevent long-term damage and allow for corrective measures.
Nutrition and Its Role in Eye Health
Good nutrition is the key to keeping eyes healthy. Parents should provide children with nutrient-rich foods to help secure their vision, especially when screen time cannot be avoided. The following are some of the essential nutrients that can ensure good eye health include:
Vitamin A: This is a nutrient for good visions and promotes the overall well-being of the retina. Good examples of it are carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Found in leafy greens, these eye antioxidants protect against damage from blue light.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish-like salmon, omega-3s help reduce the risk of developing dry eye syndrome.
A well-balanced diet, rich in all such nutrients, can fortify your child's eyes and subsequently weaken the ill effects screen time.
Early Signs of Eye Problems
As a parent, knowing the early signs of potential eye problems will help in managing what is said to be referred to as screen time. In case your child happens to exhibit any of the mentioned above, it is recommended to visit a professional optometrist in UAE:
They tend to rub their eyes frequently
Complains of headache or blurry vision
They squint more than usual
They happen to hold phone closer than necessary
Difficulty focusing on distant objects
Early detection of these disorders avoids more severe problems during later stages of life.
Professional Eye Care in Abu Dhabi
Ensuring professional eye care in Abu Dhabi is crucial to the well-being of your child's eyes. For children, there are so many professional optometrists with enough good experience in Abu Dhabi, especially for children. Routine check-ups can detect early signs of eye strain or other vision problems caused by screen time and thus can be intervened early.
An optometrist may even advise you on what you should wear, when necessary, such as blue light-blocking glasses can filter out damaging blue light emitted by screens. It may prove quite beneficial to kids who are glued to their digital devices for most of their day.
Do Blue Light Glasses Help?
Most of the leading causes of eye strain are emitted through digital devices, and that is what leads to the use of blue light glasses. While the effectiveness of these glasses is yet to be confirmed, most parents confess to a reduction in eye discomfort in children after using blue light glasses.
If your child often feels eye strain or headaches after screen time, an optometrist in UAE may offer blue light glasses as preventive measures.
Setting an Example: Parents' Role in Reducing Screen Time
Children usually tend to follow up what they see around them, specifically among parents. Thus, parents themselves should establish a pattern for screen time management as well. Limit your screen time and indulge in outdoor games or reading instead of digital media entertainment when with your family.
Create a routine that maintains a good balance of screen time usage and physical activity, social interaction, and rest is key to developing habits for your children.
Why Kattan Opticals?
Kattan Opticals is a name that has earned a reputation of being the best eye care in Abu Dhabi. We offer one-stop shop eye care solutions for all kinds of children and adults. Kattan Opticals continues to set a high standard with their team of highly skilled optometrists with the latest technological advancements in eye care. We provide customized care, quick detection of eye diseases, and cater to individual needs of a child. Therefore, you can always be assured that your child will receive the best care under Kattan Opticals in an amiable yet professional setting.
Conclusion
As screen use has become a part of children’s life, it is becoming very crucial to handle screen time and maintain the eyes of the children. Parents should guide children on how to balance usage and take a break from using smartphones/electronic devices. By being active outdoors and taking breaks regularly, you reduce the risk of eye strain. Incorporating healthy habits, regular check-ups with an optometrist in UAE, offering your child a balanced diet rich in vital nutrients for healthy eyes, are all steps towards long-term eye health are worthwhile. On doing such proactive measures, the parents allow their children to benefit from the technology without losing the vision.
Want to book an appointment with us? Call us +971-2-678 0818 today…!!!!