University of Michigan — MedicalXPress, Monday 18 July 2022
Just half of parents recognize that screen time has a major impact on their child’s eye health, suggests the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at University of Michigan Health. The nationally representative report was based on responses from 2,002 parents of children ages 3–18 surveyed in April. “Many parents may not be aware of both the short and long-term health issues linked to excessive screen time, including its effect on children’s eyes. Our findings suggest that some parents may have inaccurate perceptions of activities that affect their children’s eye health and vision and how to minimize risks,” said Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark.
Some experts have pointed to the combination of increased screen time and less time outdoors as factors that may put children at higher risk for developing myopia, or nearsightedness. The rate of nearsightedness in children has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. Research is ongoing but studies suggest outdoor time protects against myopia. “Parents should encourage at least one to two hours of outdoor time per day because exposure to natural light benefits eye development. Parents should enforce family rules to ensure children have a sustained period of non-screen time during the day. This is especially important during summer months when they’re off from school,” Clark said. Less than a third of parents say wearing sunglasses when outdoors has a major impact on children’s vision and eye health, with just two in five having their child wear eyewear when outdoors. Less than a third of parents say their child wears protective glasses or goggles during contact sports. “Children should get vision tests at least every two years to make sure eyes are developing properly. It’s important to identify and treat vision problems as early as possible, because undiagnosed issues can lead to serious eye conditions in the future, including permanent vision loss,” Clark said.