Screens are everywhere — TVs, tablets, phones, laptops—and let’s face it, kids love them. Screens are now an essential part of their lives. But can they harm your eyes? Unfortunately, they can, especially when not balanced with healthy habits or good visual hygiene.
A known risk factor for developing myopia, or near-sightedness, is spending more time focusing on objects up close and reduced time spent outdoors. With kids spending more time on devices, we are seeing an increasing number of children becoming short-sighted at an earlier age than in the past.
Unfortunately, we know kids will always want to use a screen. So how much screen time is recommended? According to the World Health Organisation, it is recommended that children under 2 years old have no screen time.
For children aged 2-4yo, a maximum of 1 hour per day. Screens are everywhere—TVs, tablets, phones, and laptops—and it’s no secret that kids love them. Screens have become an essential part of their lives. However, can they harm your child’s eyes? Unfortunately, they can, especially when not balanced with healthy habits or good visual hygiene.
One known risk factor for developing myopia, or near-sightedness, is spending excessive time focusing on objects up close while having less time outdoors. As children spend more time on devices, we are witnessing an increase in the number of kids becoming short-sighted at earlier ages than in the past.
Since kids are often drawn to screens, you may wonder how much screen time is recommended. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children under 2 years old should have no screen time. For children aged 2 to 4 years, a maximum of 1 hour per day is recommended, and this should be co-viewed with a parent. This means you have a direct influence on your child’s screen time, and that’s a powerful role to play. For children aged 5 to 17 years, a maximum of 2 hours per day of recreational screen time is advised. These recommendations do not include school-related screen time.
To help protect your child’s eyes while they are using a screen, it’s essential to adopt good visual hygiene habits. Here are some guidelines:
1. The Elbow Rule: The screen (or book) should be no closer than an elbow’s distance away from the eyes. To measure this, hold your fingers straight beside your eyes with your elbow extended in front of you. The elbow should indicate the closest distance the screen should be from the eyes.
2. The 20/20/20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (or 6 meters) away for 20 seconds. When children are engrossed in a screen, 20 minutes can pass quickly, so setting a timer can be helpful.
3. Set Time Limits: Adhere to the recommended WHO guidelines for screen time and encourage outdoor play and hands-on activities instead. Spending time outside is one of the best ways to protect against myopia. Natural light and distance focusing contribute to proper eye development, so aiming for at least 2 hours of outdoor play each day is highly recommended.
The Bottom Line: Screens aren’t the enemy, but excessive use or improper habits can affect your child’s vision and health. By implementing good habits, encouraging regular breaks, and promoting outdoor play, you can help your child enjoy screen time without compromising their eye health. These recommendations don’t include school-related screen time. And remember, if you haven’t had your child’s eyes tested recently, making an appointment with your optometrist in Canberra is a responsible and caring step you can take.