Does computer use have any effect on my child’s vision?

Although initially introduced for adult use, computers are now used by a lot of children all over the world, for education as well as recreation.  Millions of children use computers on a daily basis at school and at home.

Just like adults, symptoms related to computer use are experienced by children. Such symptoms as eye discomfort, fatigue, blurred vision and headaches can result from extensive viewing of the computer. Still, some unique aspects of how children use computers may make them more susceptible than adults to the development of these problems.

The potential impact of computer use on children's vision arises because many children keep performing an enjoyable task with great concentration until near exhaustion, e.g. playing video games for hours with little or no breaks.  Prolonged activity without a significant break can cause accommodative (eye focusing) problems and eye irritation.

Accommodative problems may occur as a result of the eyes' focusing system "locking in" to a particular target and viewing distance.  In some cases, this may cause the eyes to be unable to smoothly and easily focus on a particular object, even long after the original work is completed.

Also, because children frequently ignore problems that would be addressed by adults, e.g. a child viewing a computer screen with a large amount of glare often will not think about changing the computer arrangement or the surroundings to achieve more comfortable viewing, children can develop excessive eye strain. 

Discomfort can also result from dryness due to infrequent blinking.

Where computer workstations are set up for adult use, a child using a computer on a typical office desk often must look up higher than an adult.  Since the most efficient viewing angle is slightly downward about 15 degrees, problems using the eyes together can occur.

Eye strain can also occur because children often accept blurred vision thinking that everyone sees the way they do. Blurred vision may arise from uncorrected refractive errors, such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism. 

Interested in protecting your child’s eye health and vision? 

Get your child to benefit from a FREE Comprehensive Eye Examination, as Metro Eyes’ ‘Back to School’ Promo runs from 1st August till 19th October, 2013.

If you have questions about your child’s eye health or vision, send your query to iuwadia@metroeyesng.com

Protect your children’s eyes, and enable them see the beauty of life.