When a child sits in front of a computer screen for hours without any protective eye wear; his/her eyes strain when focusing on the screen. This puts the child’s eye sight at a greater risk than an adult’s because they could develop computer vision syndrome.
Many parents are unaware that there are numerous vision problems affecting children today that are a result of using computers. Most children spend hours on computers performing various tasks; this prolonged activity can cause eye focusing problems. It is also true that children are very quick to adapt to different environments; this is also the case when they are using computers. They adapt to the screen light even if it is affecting their vision; this is why parents should monitor the amount of time their kids spend on the computer.
The following are several very important tips that parents should use to decrease computer vision syndrome among children.
First, get a regular eye check-up by the doctor before the child starts using computers; the comprehensive eye exam should include near-point and distance testing to determine what is best for their eyes. Parents should also limit the amount of time the child spends on the computer; they should take 20 seconds break from the computer every 20 minutes to reduce the chances of developing computer vision syndrome.
Ensure that the computer position is adjusted to the body size of the child; the recommended distance between the child’s eyes and the monitor should be 18 to 28 inches. Also, when the child is using the computer, they should reduce the lighting from the windows, glare and other light sources that enter the room to match the light of the computer screen.
Children should always wear eyewear or have their eyeglasses professionally modified to create a pair of customized computer glasses. This is especially true if the child wears contact lenses which may become dry and uncomfortable when on the computer; computer glasses are also a good choice when using the computer if he/she wears progressive lenses.
It is easy to prevent children eye problems caused by spending a lot of time on the computer; quite simply parents need to ensure that they give proper eye-care to their children to prevent eye problems. Eye treatment can be a very challenging process if the problem is not diagnosed properly; it is therefore better to prevent these problems from occurring because treating them can be quite challenging.
Pediatric eye problems can be consulted to the child’s doctor or a Lasik surgeon in Phoenix. Lasik is a great alternative to treat common vision problems, but this procedure can only be given to people over the age of 18. In some cases, pediatric eye doctors can be visited in Phoenix Lasik centers, or other local eye clinics. These eye centers can provide standard eye exams to children, as well as other suitable eye treatments for individual child cases.
