Summer Screen Time Can Cause Eye and Sleep Problems
With the last school bell of the 2018-2019 school year right around the corner, doctors are encouraging parents to be mindful of how much screen time they are allowing their children.
A recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that for teens, the average daily screen time was six hours and 40 minutes, and that number will only trend up during the summer months.
Dr. Emma Holden, an optometrist with Vold Vision, says extended screen time impacts eye health. “Too much screen time can definitely impact our children’s eyes in many ways,” she stated. “When we are focusing and inducing our eyes to have to be clear on anything up close like a phone or tablet screen our focusing system gets tired. So, when the child looks in the distance, things might be blurry. The child might also have eye pain or complaining of headaches.”