In this digital age, children and adults spend more time in front of screens than any generation before. It is perhaps inevitable, as almost everything we need is hosted digitally. For instance, most of the work anyone does includes a digital interface, and a lot of educational material is accessible through a computer.

With everything going online, our children spend more time on screens than we did. It means that all the side effects of too much digital use will fall on them. Children are also currently more affected by digital screen time than adults. 

So, what are the effects of too much screen time? Can too much screen time cause nearsightedness? Read on to learn more about the impact of screen time on children.

Nearsightedness 

Nearsightedness is a refractive eye condition that causes the patient to see distant objects as blurry. It is often a hereditary condition, so you will most likely have it if your parents have it. It is caused by the elongation of the eyeball. The elongation affects the ability of the eye to focus light effectively. 

Nearsightedness or myopia usually develops when we are young. As the eye still develops till the age of 18, the condition usually worsens. When we turn 18, our eyes have reached their peak of development, and our vision stabilizes.

So, can the environment cause nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness and Too Much Screen Time

According to new research by ophthalmologists, more and more adults are experiencing a change in vision than ever before. They found that more adults have eyeball elongation long past the expected 18 years. They have linked this change to the extended screen time that adults are exposed to. 

Our eyeballs tend to elongate when we focus more on near objects. For adults, this causes eyestrain and accelerates the development of eye problems. In children, however, it may lead to nearsightedness. Experts now consider it to be an epidemic among children.

What Are Other Eye Problems Caused by Too Much Screen Time?

Screen time also has many other issues that affect the quality of life. Here are some of the main ones.

• Eye Fatigue

The medical term for eye fatigue is asthenopia. It is marked by headaches, dimness of vision, and ocular discomfort. It mainly occurs when you use the eyes over a prolonged period. Usually, screen time makes it worse than it is. 

Children who experience asthenopia will often complain of the symptoms, feel tired, or have eye pain. They will usually lose interest in tasks like reading. 

• Dry Eye

Prolonged screen time can lead to the development of dry eye and irritation. According to studies, one of the main effects of too much screen time is low blink rates. Without enough blinking, the eye dries out, causing dry eye symptoms. It may be worse for children looking up at a screen positioned for adults.

How to Mitigate the Issues Caused by Too Much Screen Time

According to studies, you can put several strategies in place to mitigate the changes that come with excessive screen time. One of these is called the 20-20-20 rule when working. Look away at a distant object about 20 feet away every 20 minutes for about 20 seconds.

For children, limit their screen time and ensure they spend more time outdoors than indoors.

For more on how too much screen time causes nearsightedness, call Inclima Eye Care at (203) 694-0418 to reach our office in West Haven, Connecticut.