January 7, 2021 - EyeClarity Blog
Online school can be a hassle to deal with and get through, but there may be an even larger impact from this new change of routine. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a considerable amount of change in our day-to-day lives. One of the biggest changes we have had to adjust to is the new learning model for our kids. With schools and learning institutes closed until further notice, many of them have chosen to move to an online learning platform. With the increase of online learning, eye doctors have seen an increase in eye problems in children.
Online school and children’s eyes
It is no secret that eye damage and eye strain has increased among adults since the advent of computers and technology. However, now there is a new dilemma to deal with. Children are now experiencing the same eye strain that adults are. There are three main problems with online learning that is damaging children’s eyes. Accumulated eye strain, myopia and astigmatism, and blue light exposure.
Accumulated eye strain
With the increased use of digital devices in their everyday life children are increasingly likely to experience eye strain. Eye strain occurs when your eyes become tired from overuse. Your eyes are similar to other muscles in your body. When you use the same muscle over and over again it will become tired and fatigued. Your eyes can go through the same thing. When you stare at an object at a specific distance for an extended period of time your eyes become tired. This can occur when you are driving for a long period of time, when you are reading a book, staring at a screen, or any other activity that requires an extended amount of eye focus.
As your child begins online learning they are likely to experience eye strain. This is because they are staring at a computer/digital screen for an extended amount of time. The American Optometric Association labels this condition as computer vision syndrome or digital eyestrain. More than likely your child is using a computer for multiple hours each day, and it only takes a couple of hours to experience digital eye strain.
To ensure that you are properly caring for your child’s eyesight it is important that you know the signs to look for of digital eyestrain. Digital eye strain can cause sore eyes, dry eyes, itchy eyes, headaches, blurry or double vision, increased sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, and even feeling like you can’t keep your eyes open. Not only is this bad for your child’s eye health, but these symptoms can also lead to a lack of focus and reduce your child’s learning potential. If your child is complaining of any of these symptoms it can be a sign that it is time for them to take a break.
Digital eye strain occurs because when we look at computers we tend not to blink. Blinking is how our eyes maintain their moisture barrier, so when we stop blinking we are more likely to get dry eyes. Similarly, staring at one object at a specific distance or angle for an extended amount of time can cause your eyes to hurt. Our eyes were not meant to function in this way.
Eye strain typically goes away after you rest your eyes or take a break from staring at the same thing. However, experiencing eyestrain for an extended amount of time each day can lead to other long-term eye problems. There are a few ways that digital eye strain can present itself:
- Eye fatigue: After a few hours of focusing on the same screen at the same distance your eyes will become tired. This is only made worse by the exposure to blue light for an extended period of time.
- Not Blinking/Blinking too frequently: When you stare at a specific distance your eyes will not blink in order to maintain focus. If you remain gazing at that distance for too long this can cause the moisture barrier on your eyes to become dry. So after a period of not blinking, you make find your child blinking a lot. This is to compensate and moisturize the eye.
- Dry and irritated eyes: Related to blinking too frequently is dry and irritated eyes. For the same reasons that you are blinking too often, you may find your child rubbing or closing their eyes. This is because if the moisture barrier is damaged your eyes will become incredibly dry and irritated.
- Loss of focus: After looking at one distance for too long your child may have a difficult time adjusting their focus. Their eyes have become so attuned to that distance that things closer or further can seem blurry. If you hear your child complaining about blurry vision it is probably time to get their eyes checked.
Myopia and Astigmatism
One of the other problems that many children will face with the increase of online school is the development of myopia and astigmatism. These two conditions are more commonly known as being farsighted (astigmatism) and nearsighted (myopia). Both of these conditions are caused by a refractive error within your eye.
Symptoms of myopia and astigmatism include blurry vision, squinting, and frequent blinking. If you notice your child doing any of these things then you should get their vision checked before continuing online learning. Staring at the same distance for extended periods of time can damage their eyes further. Similarly, if they did not use to have a problem, they can develop these conditions. Make sure that you take them to a holistic eye doctor so that they can diagnose and treat your child.
Normal eye doctors will simply treat the symptoms, but holistic eye doctors will treat the source of the problem. Holistic eye doctors can help prevent further damage before it occurs and not just treat the symptoms. With eye exercises, a healthy diet, and preventative measures a holistic eye doctor is more comprehensive with their diagnoses.
Blue Light Exposure
When it comes to your eye health, screen time has a big impact. An extended amount of screen time can lead to eye strain, myopia, astigmatism, damage to your retinas, and disturb your sleep patterns. According to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) report confirms that prolonged exposure to bright LED lights can lead to irreversible retinal damage. In addition, children’s eyes are still forming and developing so they are more susceptible to the side-effects of LED exposure.
Blue light (LED) can have a negative effect on your child’s eye health. While a short amount of highly concentrated LED light causes the biggest negative effect, there is still research being performed on low levels over an extended period of time. In the same report from ANSES, researchers discovered that a chronic level of blue light can accelerate retinal tissue degradation, age-related macular degeneration, and it can contribute to vision blurriness. While some devices, such as tablets and phones, may not pose as large of a risk as other devices they can still cause sleep problems as well.
Every human being follows a natural sleep pattern called a circadian rhythm. These sleep patterns follow a natural up and down between light sleep and deep sleep (REM sleep). Our circadian rhythms are determined by the sun. However, with the increase of technological discoveries, blue light can influence this natural process. Your retinas detect light late at night, so your brain processes the information to mean that it is day time. If your brain thinks it is daytime it will be less likely to fall into a deep sleep. Your body needs a deep sleeping cycle in order to stay healthy and function properly. If you are constantly in a state of light sleep this will prevent your body from functioning properly. Similarly, if your child is unable to sleep at night then they will not be able to focus on school the next day. This can decrease their learning potential and impact their attention span. In order to combat the eye problems that can arise from blue-light, there are blue-light-blocking glasses that you can buy.
How to Combat the Impact of Online School on Children’s Eyes
Thankfully, all hope is not lost, you can still combat the impact of online school on your children’s eyes. Preventative measures can be taken and there are options to treat symptoms.
20-20-20
One of the biggest, and simplest, ways to combat digital eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 technique. With this technique, you give your eyes a break from staring at the same distance for an extended period of time. This will reduce the overall impact on your eye health and prevent symptoms such as blurry eyes, eye fatigue, dry eyes, and headaches. If you think your child is suffering from these conditions, you can implement this technique into their daily routine.
The 20-20-20 technique is as simple as it sounds. Every twenty minutes, you look away from your computer screen, stare at an object 20 feet away, and do this for 20 seconds. You don’t even have to move from a seated position, and it only takes 20 seconds to complete. Your child could be in the middle of class and do this and it won’t affect their learning. This simple technique is incredibly beneficial to their eye health.
To integrate this into their daily routine you can set a timer on their phone that will alert them every 20 minutes. The concept and process of this technique is so simple that even young children can use it.
Blue light lenses
Blue light is the shortest wavelength of light that is visible on the visible light spectrum. Blue light blocking glasses have a lens in them that blocks/absorbs the blue light and prevents it from getting through. You wear these glasses whenever you are using a computer or a digital device and the lens will prevent the blue light from traveling to your eyes.
Blue light lenses are simple to use and easy to get. They are worn in glasses frames so all you have to do is put them on and use them whenever you are looking at a computer, tablet, or television. This simple invention prevents your circadian rhythm from being thrown off and prevents any damage that may occur from the blue light. Make sure that you get a good pair of blue-light blocking lenses. Amber lenses can be helpful but they can also prevent your pupils from dilating normally which can cause eye damage. Blue light lenses such as ones with a Blue Protect Filter will provide you with a clear image that is not tinted and allows your pupils to dilate normally.
Glasses can sometimes be a pain when it comes to children. They can lose them or break them or may not want to wear them, but it’s ok. They come in all shapes and colors, are easy to replace, and are affordable. Even better, you can get prescription blue-light lenses so that your child who already wears glasses can benefit too.
Eye exercises
Eye exercises are another great way to prevent eye damage. While eye exercises do not help with things such as myopia, astigmatism, or genetic diseases, it can help with the effects of digital eye strain. Eye exercises are designed to strengthen the eye muscles and help you focus. With strengthened eye muscles, it is easier to move your eyes and stimulate your brain’s vision center. These exercises ease discomfort and make it easier to fight the symptoms of digital eye strain.
There are three main exercises that you can practice to strengthen your eye muscles. Moro reflex integration, eye-brain-body-fun, and N palm hum. Each of these exercises works different parts of your brain and helps prevent damage to your child’s eyes.
Key Takeaways
With the increase of online schooling comes the increase in technology usage. Many children are now facing the effects of accumulated eye strain, myopia and astigmatism, and blue light exposure. Eye fatigue, dry eyes, inability to focus, and frequent blinking can all be indicators of eye problems. Not only can this affect their eye health, but it can affect their schooling as well. If your child’s eye health is damaged, then they face the risk of reduced learning potential and attention span. However, all of these things are not the end of the world. With simple techniques like 20-20-20, blue light lenses, and eye exercises you can combat the impact of online school on your child’s eyes. Invest in your child’s future by scheduling an appointment with a holistic eye doctor or contact me to talk about your child’s eye health.