Screens are everywhere—from desktop and laptop computers to smartphones and tablets. Of course, spending too much time in front of a screen can lead to eye strain for adults. What about children and teens? Technology is second nature to them, and they spend a lot of time playing games on a tablet or scrolling through social media on smartphones. Is screen time harmful to a child’s or teen’s vision? Could there be a link between screen time and increasing cases of myopia?
According to a 2019 study published in Ophthalmology: The Journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, near work, such as reading traditional books and writing, as well as spending time indoors, in addition to screen time, that may lead to myopia. Excessive screen time at a young age can also be harmful. A study in Canada showed that preschoolers who had more than two hours of screen time a day had an eightfold increase in developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
How can screen time in children be managed? After all, technology is a part of everyday life. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no screen time before one year of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time, except for video chats with relatives, for children between the ages of 18 months to 2 years.
These tips can help manage a child’s screen time:
• According to AAP, children between the ages of 2 and 5 years-old should have no more than one hour of screen time a day, and the content needs to be educational. In other words, no pet videos.
• For older children and teens, encourage breaks using the 20-20-20 rule, which is every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• For children of all ages, it is important to encourage activities that don’t involve screens, especially outdoor physical activity. Physical activity improves overall health and well-being, and exposure to natural light reduces myopia risk.
• Establish a consistent sleep schedule and power down devices one hour before bedtime, as using devices close to bedtime can harm sleep quality.
Are there any benefits to screen time, aside from learning how to use technology? A recent study in France looked at the link between screen time in middle childhood and color discernment, contrast sensitivity and short-range visual acuity. The cohort consisted 305 children, both boys and girls. Parents provided information about screen time, such as video game use and television viewing.
Researchers found that screen exposure at age six was associated with higher contrast sensitivity at age 12 in girls. One interesting finding from this study is that boys have improved vision of short-wavelength colors, such as blue, indigo and violet. Scientists feel that moderate exposure to blue light from screens could have an impact on this kind of color perception due to the higher sensitivity of blue-light photoreceptors.
Another interesting finding from this study is that there was no link between a need for glasses and screen exposure. In some cases, there was even an improvement in vision. Researchers believe this enhancement relies on the brain’s ability to adapt and adjust neural pathways after diverse visual experiences.
It turns out that screen time isn’t as bad as it seems. Technology is a tool, and like all tools, there is a correct and incorrect way to use it. Advances in technology has helped in diagnosing and treating eye conditions. It is important to use digital devices judiciously—not only for eye health but for overall well-being. After all, how many pet videos can a person watch in one day?
Sources:
https://www.ophthalmology24.com/screen-time-and-children-eye-health
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/screen-use-kids
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10391416/
https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/not-all-screen-time-is-created-equal
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37873891/#full-view-affiliation-2