A new survey from the Alberta Association of Optometrists looked at digital eye strain among children in Alberta.

The survey found that 59 per cent of Alberta parents aren't aware of or don't encourage their children to take steps to reduce eye strain from the use of digital devices.

"What they found is that the average for all kids in Alberta was five hours per day of using digital devices at home and school," explained Dr. Jared Long with Airdrie Eyecare Centre, "Breaking that down further, your elementary aged kids were about four hours and teenagers getting closer to eight hours of use."

Digital eye strain is discomfert experienced after using a screen for more than two hours at a time. It can be caused by staring at objects close up for an extended period of time, or from exposure to blue light that is emitted by devices.

"While the long-term effects of exposure to blue light are still being discovered, we know that digital eye strain can cause discomfort that can be distracting and even debilitating," said Dr. Jim Asuchak, president of the Alberta Association of Optometrists, "Since 80 per cent of learning is visual, this can affect a child's ability to focus and learn in the classroom."

Symptoms of digital eye strain include headaches, irritability, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, eye irritation, double vision, excessive blinking, excessive tearing or dry eyes, and squinting. Dr. Long said it's sometimes hard for parents to identify eye strain, because children won't complain of the symptoms. Children also might not show obvious signs of discomfort. 

Dr. Long said there are steps parents can take to reduce the chances of eye strain.

"The first sort of thing is to take breaks. There has been this 20-20-20 rule. Basically, you want to look at something about twenty feet away every twenty minutes for about twenty seconds."

The 20-20-20 rule is meant to make a conscious effort to take breaks from concentrating on devices for a long period of time. Parents can also make sure their children are holding devices at arms length, eliminate screen glare by dimming overhead lights, and dim the screen brightness.

 

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