Increased Technology Use May Lead to Future Eye Health and Vision Issues

Children need yearly comprehensive eye exams prior to the start of
each school year

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Digital technology has become an integral part of children’s lives in
the classroom and at home. While advances in technology may help enhance
learning, many digital devices are still relatively new and the
long-term effects on young eyes are still being determined.

According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2015 American
Eye-Q^® survey, 41 percent of parents say their kids spend
three or more hours per day using digital devices, and 66 percent of
kids have their own smartphone or tablet.

“Today’s children have had access to electronic devices their whole
lives,” says Dr. Nicholas Colatrella, President of the Minnesota
Optometric Association and owner of PineCone Vision Center, Sartell,
Minnesota. “Since technology use is expected to continue to climb, we
need to ensure that children and parents are aware of the visual risks
associated with staring at screens for long periods of time and take the
proper precautions to help alleviate eye and vision problems.”

Parents should watch for signs of digital eye strain in children,
which can cause burning, itchy or tired eyes, headaches, fatigue, loss
of focus, blurred vision, double vision or head and neck pain. To
protect children’s eyes and vision, encourage them to take frequent
visual breaks by practicing the 20-20-20 rule: when using technology or
doing near work, take a 20-second break, every 20 minutes and view
something 20 feet away.

Today’s electronic devices also emit high-energy, short-wavelength,
blue and violet light, which may affect vision and even prematurely age
the eyes. Early research shows that overexposure to blue light could
contribute to eye strain and discomfort and may lead to serious
conditions in later life such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
which can cause blindness.

It’s essential to make comprehensive eye exams a priority each school
year. “A child’s eyes are still changing between the ages of 5 and 13
years old,” said Dr. Colatrella. “Therefore, during this time, the
distance between the lens and the retina is also still changing. When
the distance between the two lengthens, we see an increase in the
instances of nearsightedness.”

Through the Pediatric Essential Health Benefit in the Affordable Care
Act, parents can take advantage of yearly comprehensive eye exams for
children ages 18 and younger.

Video:

30-sec: http://bcove.me/cz5g6g0y

Contacts

For Minnesota Optometric Association:
Joan Knight, 763-205-2720
jknight@visi.com
mobile:
612-889-7721