Digital eye strain

What is it?

Digital eye strain is the discomfort experienced after looking at screens – computers, tablets, smart phones, video games, television – for more than two hours at a time.

What are the symptoms?

The research reveals that poor behaviour is the top cited symptom of digital eye strain in children, followed by reduced attention span. All ages can experience tired eyes; eye strain; shoulder, back or neck pain; and headaches.

How can digital eye strain be prevented?

To start, it is important to be mindful of how much time a child spends on digital devices. The AAO recommends the following screen time for children:

–Zero to two years: Zero screen time, except for live video-chatting using programs like Facetime and Skype. –Two to five years: One hour per day, with parental monitoring. –Five to 18 years: Ideally no more than two hours per day of recreational screen time. It’s difficult to monitor the total hours when combined with school; however, parents should consider the impact on their child’s development and needs.

All ages:

There are also easy, every-day preventative measures that can be taken to help reduce the risks of digital eye strain:

• Just walk away. Take a break for a few minutes and give your eyes a rest. Focus on something in the distance.
• Eliminate screen glare by reducing overhead lighting.
• Position the computer slightly below eye level and at arm’s length.
• Increase text size on digital devices.
• Adjust screen brightness.
• Practice regular breaks by looking at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

How can an optometrist help?

Your optometrist can recommend a customized solution, based on your child’s digital habits, to help prevent the adverse effects of digital eye strain. They may recommend computer glasses, which can help reduce eye fatigue.