There are some simple ways to help prevent vision problems, according to an optometrist with UT Physicians.
HOUSTON — From games to gossip and social media to scrolling, it’s no secret that kids love their phones.
The average child between ages eight and 18 spends 7.5 hours a day on screens, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Too much screen time can take a toll on your eyesight.
According to the British Journal of Ophthalmology, one in four children worldwide was nearsighted a generation ago. Now, it’s jumped to more than one in three.
Optometrist Stephanie Handal, with UT Physicians, said constantly focusing on the phone or computer screens literally reshapes your eyes.
“Causing those muscles inside the eye to send signals to the brain that the eyes are just not quite long enough,” Dr. Handal said. “So the longer the eye grows, the more the prescription needs to change and the worse the vision gets, the more nearsighted they become.”
She prescribes medicated contact lenses to slow the progression in children.
To reduce digital eyestrain, experts recommend the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from your devices and focus on something 20 feet away.
Experts also suggest spending at least two hours a day outside because studies indicate that exposure to sunlight while focusing on items near and far can lower the risk of nearsightedness.