Reduce eye strain

FOR many families, home schooling has been one of the toughest challenges of the past 18 months.

Having to juggle your own work commitments and everyday tasks while stepping up into the role of ‘teacher’ has proven tricky. 

But one aspect of home schooling that is often overlooked is the potential impact it can have on eye health. With many lessons haven taken place online, those hours spent on Zoom are totting up, with screentime on digital devices going through the roof. 

What is that doing to our vision and how can we reduce eye strain during home schooling? 

More time in front of screens, whether for school or for fun, can result in eye strain, fatigue and headaches, but there are a few simple ways parents can help to protect their kids’ eyes during a time when screens are a bigger part of everyday life. 

Ben Owen from Nixon and Shaw Opticians in Melksham offers the following advice. 

Keep a safe distance from devices 

Historically, a typical reading distance was about 40cm but, with the advent of tablets and smartphones, we are now seeing that reduced to around 25cm. 

At this distance, the eyes turn in to focus on the screen, as opposed to being relaxed and in the straight-ahead position when looking at something further away. After a while, this can lead to fatigue of the eye muscles, which can cause headaches or other vision problems. 

Shortsight in children, is on the rise. One in four parents had a child with myopia in 2018, an increase of 25 per cent in a generation. 

If left untreated, myopia can lead to a higher tendency for developing serious eye diseases later in life, including retinal detachment and glaucoma. 

By keeping digital devices about two feet away and at eye level or slightly below, it’s possible to limit eye strain. 

Take regular breaks 

The 20/20/20 Rule is a good guide for parents to follow. Every 20 minutes you need to look up at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This gives eyes a break and a return to their natural position. 

Another emerging school of thought is ‘30/30/Out’ – which suggests 30 minutes of screentime at 30cm before heading outside for 30 minutes, when British weather permits of course! 

Taking regular screen breaks is likely to be more effective than depending on gadgets. A good quality pair of sunglasses for children to wear outdoors, protecting their eyes against the effects of prolonged ultraviolet light exposure from the sun is the best device you can buy for them to help protect. 

Watch for signs of vision issues 

Headaches, excessive blinking, eye rubbing – are potential warning signs that they are having vision trouble. Avoiding glare can be helpful — adjust the screen brightness down for indoor usage and try not to use digital devices outdoors. 

When people read, particularly on digital devices, blink rates can be significantly reduced which can lead to dry eyes. Pay attention to this and make sure your child is blinking regularly when looking at a screen.  

Don’t miss eye examinations 

It’s never too early to start considering your child’s vision. It is widely recognised that without good vision, children can experience developmental setbacks that could easily be avoided with simple and regular eye examinations. 

It is currently estimated that Myopia (shortsight) affects 30% of the world’s population, and this number is projected to be nearly 50% by 2050. Projected increases are widely considered to be driven by environmental factors such as decreased outdoors time and increased near work.  

We can even offer you ways to manage your child’s short sight with special contact lenses and glasses – non invasive and effective. 

Eye examinations are essential to identifying potential issues with children’s eyesight and shouldn’t be put off just because of the pandemic.  

For more information, contact Nixon and Shaw Opticians, 6 High Street, Melksham, SN12 6JU, or tel. 01225 703218.