fbpx
Your Guide To Doctors, Health Information, and Better Health!
Your Health Magazine Logo
The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Artis Beatty, OD
Advice For Your Pupils Screening and Eye Health In Children
Eye Care Associates

Advice For Your Pupils Screening and Eye Health In Children

As the new school year rolls around, students will pick out their outfit for the first day of school, pack their lunches and of course, charge their digital devices. More and more children utilize technology in academic settings and according to Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit organization, one-third of U.S. students will use a school-issued mobile device. Studies show excessive use of devices could actually lead to long-term damage in vision and academic performance.

As the new school year kicks-off, here are some ways parents can help their kids to use devices responsibly

Mind your posture; your digital device posture, that is. Children working on computers or tablets should position devices at least 20 inches from their faces to decrease eye strain. They should also position the screen slightly downward to decrease tension on the neck and back.

Stare into space. Parents should encourage children to use the 20-20-20 rule look away from the screen at an object on the wall 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This breaks up screen time and allows for more regular blinking.

Go shopping. Get an annual eye exam and invest in the right frames and lenses to correct vision and enhance academic performance.

Take a hike. According to the Vision Council, children who play outside regularly are 23 percent less likely to develop myopia, or nearsightedness. Parents can even consider this a reward for children who have learned how best to manage their digital device usage.

Prepping your child for a healthy and successful academic year includes digital eye health. Increased screen time has been associated with myopia, or nearsightedness, in children. It’s critical to discuss solutions with your optometrist so your children can use technology safely.

Parents must adhere to an “every kid, every year” mantra for back to school eye exams. Headaches, clumsiness, decreased attention span and poor academic performance can all be related to vision impairment or not wearing the right prescription.

Schedule an annual eye exam for your child today.

www.yourhealthmagazine.net
MD (301) 805-6805 | VA (703) 288-3130