How to protect children's vision in the digital age

Do your children complain about tired, aching eyes or poor vision after a long day of staring at screens? You have reason to be concerned. With devices becoming an everyday necessity and part of most routines, children today are facing more eye-related issues than before. Persistent headaches, dry and itchy eyes, and dizziness accompanied by blurred vision are unmistakable signs for worrying. Some kids even struggle with light sensitivity, neck stiffness, and constant eye rubbing—all signs that their eyes are working overtime. The good news? Recognizing these complaints early can help you take the right steps to protect their vision before things get worse.

How much do children use digital devices these days?
Currently, children are frequently exposed to digital devices for both educational and recreational purposes. Research shows that children aged 5-16 are exposed to a screen type whether – smartphones, tablets, computers, or televisions – on average 5 to 7 hours a day. With the increasing use of digital learning platforms, even school hours contribute significantly to screen exposure. Homework, entertainment, and social interactions further add to screen time. The global pandemic taught us how technology can accentuate learning and communication, but it also made us witness the adverse effects of minimum limit set to screen time. Vision concerns, slumping posture, and lack of cognitive development are some of the issues that plague them.

How does constant exposure to screens impact children?
Studies have indicated that extended usage of electronic devices might have a harmful impact on a child's health, particularly his or her eyes. Overexposure of children to screens resulted in a rapid development in Digital Eye Strain , often known as computer vision syndrome. Children with digital eye strain often report feeling discomfort in the eye region including sore dry eyes, blurred vision, tightening of the eyes, severe headaches, and focus difficulties. And, blue light emitting devices can disrupt sleep pattern by masking melatonin production, thereby preventing a person from getting adequate sleep. Furthermore, too much screen time contributes to physically inactive lifestyle that is considered harmful for eye health and increases the possibility of myopia, or near-sightedness.

Children may not know how to articulate the pain they feel after extensive use of electronic devices, here are the common eye complaints and what it could be:
"My eyes feel tired" or "My eyes hurt" – A classic sign of digital eye strain caused by extended screen use.
"Everything looks blurry" – Trouble focusing on distant objects after prolonged near work, potentially indicating early myopia or accommodative dysfunction.
“I have a headache” – Comes from too much screen exposure, slouching in poor postures and over usage of mobile phones during sleep.
“My eyes feel dry, itchy, or watery” – On the other hand, reduced blinking leads to discomfort and irritation of the eye region, which in turn arouses soreness.
“I see double” or “Things move when I try to focus” – These statements seem to indicate accommodative spasm or convergence insufficiency where the reluctance of coordination of vision happens, also known as strabismus.
"I feel dizzy when I read on a screen" – A result of prolonged convergence stress, making it harder to keep images clear.
"I can’t look at bright screens for too long" – Increased light sensitivity (photophobia) from excessive screen exposure.
"My neck hurts" or "My back feels stiff" – Poor posture while using devices can lead to tech neck, impacting overall comfort and focus.
"I rub my eyes a lot" – Persistent eye fatigue or dryness often causes excessive eye rubbing, which can worsen irritation. Lastly, increased blue light exposure is attributed to increased risk of macular degeneration.
Myopia left untreated can worsen, increasing the chances of high myopia which has complications like retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts in later stages of life. Chronic dry eye syndrome, one of the digital eye problems, can result in long term inflammation of the cornea. Accommodative dysfunction (difficulty focus on objects both near and far) can extend into adulthood where productivity and learning can be greatly hindered. Additionally, the risk of macular degeneration can be exacerbated by exposure to blue light.

A huge responsibility lies with parents, caregivers, and teachers especially now when children are constantly surrounded by screens. It is important to control the amount of screen time kids have as using digital devices comes with some risks and kids should be encouraged to take breaks, which children often tend to shy away from. Kids should also be encouraged to play outside as the sun is helps with the eye development as well as help reduce the chances of myopia. Strain on monitors can be alleviated by teaching children to adopt proper healthy screen habits like maintaining proper posture, blinking more often, and avoiding long screen time. To further reduce glare and discomfort, well-lit environments should be used when screens are needed. Additionally, scheduling regular eye check-ups ensures early detection and management of vision issues. Most importantly, adults should set a good example by following these practices themselves, reinforcing healthy habits for children.

Dr. Madhulika Ladha, Paediatric Ophthalmologist, Sankara Eye Hospital, Anand