Everything You Need To Know About Children And Computer Vision Syndrome

According to most pediatricians, screen time for kids should be limited to just one to two hours per day. Unfortunately, however, modern technology tends to be far too pervasive for parents to adhere to this rule. Not only is this difficulty affecting juvenile attention spans, problem solving, critical thinking and overall cognitive abilities, but it’s also having very adverse impact on eyesight. Following is everything you need to know about children and computer vision syndrome.Not surprisingly, this is currently a very common condition. It is defined by eyestrain and visual discomfort that is directly the result of computer use. In adults, it often occurs after having spent a long work day at a desk, while starring at a screen. Unfortunately, kids have countless screens that they can stare at all throughout the day, whether for entertain or learning purposes. These includes laptops, traditional computers, laptops, interactive whiteboards, e-readers and mobile phones.

It is important to note that the eyes really don’t differentiate between the screen type or the reasons why the screen is being used. The only factor that truly matters is the amount of time that the eyes are forced to remain trained on the screen. Cumulative, many kids are spending more than eight hours viewing technical devices each day.

Several of the most common symptoms that a child is likely to experience include headaches, blurred vision, eyestrain dry eyes and even pain in the neck and shoulder area. Children who are not prone to frequent headaches but suddenly start experiencing may simply need to limit the amount of time that they are spending in front of the television, on the Internet or texting with friends. Eliminating the underlying cause is far better than using medication to alleviate the outward symptoms.

There are certainly other factors that can impact how screen use affects the eyes. These include the brightness of the device that is being used, the lighting in the area and the positioning of the screen and any potential glare. When using technology is a must, these are factors that can be controlled in order to limit negative effects and the likelihood of your child developing computer vision syndrome.

As a parent, you may be wondering what you can do to limit the likelihood of your child developing this condition. The first and most obvious step is to limit screen time as much as possible. Although its important for kids to use technology and stay on par with the latest technological developments affecting their world, it is also vital for youngsters to have a sense of balance.

Beyond limiting screen time, however, parents also have to schedule regular eye exams. Many people overlook these appointments when their kids aren’t showing any noticeable symptoms of vision distress such as crossed eyes, blurred vision, double vision or frequent headaches. Some make the mistaken assumption that eye exams that are conducted in school or during routine visits with general practitioners are sufficient. In reality, however, this is far from the case.

When taking your child to the optometrist, you’ll be exposing your youngster to a diagnostic and treatment environment that is far superior in terms of overall eye health to the ones that exist in school nurses’ offices and general pediatric clinics. Your child will be tested for color-blindness, stigmatism, strabismus and any vision issues that he or she might be genetically predisposed to developing. If corrective lenses are necessary, the optometrist will additionally issue a prescription along with suggestions or limiting activities that have proven too taxing on the eyes.