Text 8.md 1.8 KB
HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME IS TOO MUCH FOR CHILDREN? Children can spend hours a day looking at computer screens and other digital devices. Some eye care professionals say this leads to an increase in computer vision syndrome. Nathan Bonilla-Warford is an optometrist in Tampa, Florida. He says he has seen an increase in problems in children. "I see a lot more children who are coming into the office either because thir parents have noticed that they have headaches or red or watery eyes or discomfort, or because their near-sightedness appears to be increasing at a fast rate and they're worried." Dr Bonilla-Warford says part of the problem is that children may be more likely than adults to ignore early sign. "Even if their eyes start to feel uncomfortable of they start to get a headache, they're less likely to tell their parents, because they don't want to have the game or the computer or whatever taken away." Eye doctors offer suggestons like the following which is known as the 20/20/20 rule. "Every twenty minutes, look away twenty feet* (about 6 metres) or more for at least twenty seconds from whatever device you're using." Other suggestions include putting more distance between you and the device and using good lighting. Of course, another way to avoid eye strain is to spend less time looking at screen. Many experts say children should spend no more than two hours a day using digital devices - with no screen time for children under two. But not all eye doctors have noticed an increase in problems in children. Dr David Hunter is an optometrist at Children's Hospital, Boston. He also is a spokesman for the American Academy of Opthalmology. He has not seen an increase in his practice. "While it is possible to develop tiredness looking at various screens for a long period of time, there's certainly no evidence that it acually causes any damage to the eyes."