More and more, parents are giving their children access to cell phones, iPads, laptops and other technology. Many children spend hours on these devices. Think about it - do your children’s use of these devices actually affect their eyesight?

The answer is a resounding “yes,” according to Dr. Gary Heiting in his online article Children and Technology: Protecting Your Child’s Eyes. He discusses some the vision-related problems that your child can develop:

Computer vision syndrome – Also known as digital eye strain, it is caused by visual stress resulting from too much screen time. Symptoms include headache, dry eyes, fatigue, tired eyes and fluctuating vision.
Nearsightedness – Eye doctors have seen an increase of nearsightedness and attribute it to the increasing use of computer screens.
Increased exposure to blue light – This light is emitted from LED screens on laptops and digital devices. Eye doctors are concerned that too much exposure will cause eye diseases later in life.
Unhealthy posture – When using technology, children often sit slouched in a position known as “turtling” – rounded shoulders and back with the head tilted back and chin jutted forward. This is an unhealthy position.

It is important to monitor your children’s use of these devices. Have them take breaks to give their eyes and posture a break. Encourage media-free time, including play time and family time. Their eyes are developing so they need to have large amounts of time away from these electronic devices.

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