These days, children are in front of digital screens all the time. Whether learning on the computer, playing games, or watching videos, screen time is a normal part of life. However, too much screen time can lead to a condition known as digital eye strain.
Computer vision syndrome is also referred to as digital eye strain. It occurs when your child’s eyes feel fatigued or uncomfortable after staring at screens for an extended period of time.
What Is Digital Eye Strain?
Digital eye strain is a collection of eye and vision issues that occur after staring at a screen for an extended period. This can be a TV, computer, tablet, or phone. Kids are using these screens more than ever—school, entertainment, and keeping up with friends.
When children stare at screens for hours at a time without rest, their eyes must strain to stay focused. All this hard work can cause them to feel uncomfortable, to have blurred vision, and other symptoms.
Why Are Children at Risk?
Kids won’t always tell you when something doesn’t feel right. They might not even know their eyes are tired or strained. Usually, they just ignore the warning signs because they are too engrossed in the screen. So it’s up to parents and guardians to monitor how much time kids spend on digital devices.
Also, kids’ eyes are still developing. They are even more sensitive to the impact of long screen time, particularly the blue light that is emitted by screens.
Common Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain in Children
These are some symptoms to watch out for to know whether your child is experiencing digital eye strain:
- Complaining about tired eyes or eye pain
- Blurry vision or double vision
- Red, watery, or dry eyes
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Headaches, particularly after screen use
- Difficulty concentrating
- Neck or shoulder pain due to bad posture
- Sensitivity to light
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms after screen use, it may be that their eyes are becoming strained.
Effects of Screen Time on Eyes
Too much screen time doesn’t only make eyes tired. It can cause other issues as well, particularly if it goes on over a long duration. Some of these effects are:
- Dry Eyes
When children watch screens, they blink less. Blinking keeps the eyes wet. Less blinking can lead to dryness, discomfort, and burning in the eyes.
- Eye Fatigue
Looking at a screen for hours without stopping can tire the eye muscles. This is referred to as eye fatigue or eye strain.
- Blurry Vision
After using screens for a long time, your child might have trouble seeing things clearly. The vision may become blurry for a while, especially when switching from screen to distant objects.
- Sleep Problems
Blue light from screens can affect the body’s sleep cycle. If children use screens before bed, it might be harder for them to fall asleep or get good-quality rest.
- Headaches
Too much screen time can cause headaches, but if your child isn’t wearing the right glasses or the screen brightness is turned up too high, that increases the risk.
Eye Issues in Children Because of Cell Phones
Mobile phones and tablets are usually held at a very close distance. This is more stressful for the eyes than viewing something that is farther away. Moreover, the small screen size causes children to squint or tilt their heads, which can be damaging to their posture and lead to neck pain.
In some cases extended screen use without healthy habits may result in vision changes, like nearsightedness (also referred to as myopia), where children find it difficult to see distant things.
Blue Light and Eye Strain
Screens emit a type of light known as blue light. Blue light can penetrate deep into the eye and might lead to strain and discomfort. There is still ongoing research about how blue light impacts children’s eyes in the long term, but most experts feel that excessive exposure should be avoided—particularly at night.
Blue light also disrupts the body’s natural sleep cycle by lowering melatonin, a sleeping hormone. That’s why it’s advisable to abstain from screen usage at least an hour prior to bedtime.
What are the Methods to Minimize Eye Strain in Children?
Fortunately, there are numerous uncomplicated methods to decrease digital eye strain in children. These minor adjustments help safeguard your child’s eyes as well as their comfort while using screens.
- Adhere to the 20-20-20 Rule
This is a really useful habit. Every 20 minutes, get your child to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This gives the eyes a brief rest and helps ease strain.
- Restrict Screen Time
Attempt to put limits on how much screen time your child has per day. Less screen time is better for younger children. For older children in school, break frequently and prioritize screen-free play.
- Modify Screen Settings
Ensure the brightness of the screen isn’t too extreme or too low. You can also make the letters larger so your child doesn’t need to squint. Minimize glare by keeping screens free of dirt and not causing reflections.
- Promote Blinking
Educate your child to blink frequently when on a screen. Blinking moistens the eyes and avoids dryness.
- Employ Blue Light Filters
Most devices have a “night mode” or blue light filter. Enable this at night to minimize blue light exposure. Blue light filtering glasses can also be obtained if necessary.
- Enhance Posture
Ensure your child sits correctly. The screen should be at eye level and roughly arm’s length away. Don’t let them use phones when lying down or slouching.
Mobile Eye Strain Treatment
If your child is already experiencing symptoms of eye strain, try these:
- Make them take a break from screens with eye-resting time
- Apply artificial tears (eye drops) if eyes are dry—only on doctor’s recommendation
- Put a warm washcloth over closed eyes to ease discomfort
- Cut back on overall screen time for a couple of days
- Keep the room lighting soft but not dark when working with screens
- If symptoms don’t improve or get worse, visit an eye doctor for a child eye checkup.
Child Eye Checkup
Regular eye exams are important for children, especially if they use screens a lot. A doctor can check if your child needs glasses or has any vision problems. Early detection helps prevent bigger issues later.
As part of an eye checkup, the physician will test your child’s vision, examine eye movement, and search for signs of digital eye strain or other problems such as myopia.
It’s best to have your child’s eyes examined at least once a year, even if they never complain about vision issues.
What Parents Can Do
As a caregiver or parent, you can support your child by:
- Establishing a screen routine
- Declaring screen-free areas such as the dining table or bedroom
- Reminding them to have a break
- Looking out for signs of distress
- Ensuring they sit comfortably and view screens in proper light
Where possible, select activities that do not include screens. Promote hobbies, board games, or playing outside with friends.
Conclusion
Digital eye strain is on the rise among children because of more screen time. Although screens are useful for learning and fun, it’s essential to balance their use with good habits.
Look for signs such as tired eyes, headaches, or blurry vision. Make small adjustments to your child’s daily routine to safeguard their eyes—such as taking breaks, modifying screen settings, and playing outside.”.
An annual eye exam can catch issues early. With easy measures and a little awareness of screen time, you can ensure your child can reap the advantages of technology without jeopardizing their precious eyes.
