Has Covid-19 affected your child’s eyesight?

How the 'new normal’ is affecting children’s vision and what parents can do to create an eye-healthy lifestyle in their homes.

A few months ago, the whole world was turned upside down as schools were forced to shift to online learning at home. Children started spending more time in front of computer screens and tablets, and many parents relaxed their screen-time rules to keep kids occupied while adhering to social distancing.

To make matters worse, in general, children are spending less time outside.

This combination of more screen time and less outdoor time may harm children’s vision and put them at higher risk of developing myopia (near-sightedness).

Near-sightedness occurs when the eye grows too large, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina (the nerve layer at the back of the eye) instead of on it, therefore creating a blurry distance image.

While glasses and contact lenses can correct a child’s vision, research shows that having severe myopia puts children at risk of a number of eye problems later on in their life, including retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Ever-increasing screen time

Fortunately, children were allowed to go back to school recently, but for some children and parents alike, the ever-increasing screen time has become a persistent problem.

Genetics are known to be the main reason for children’s decreased vision and unfortunately that is beyond a parent’s control, but one can reduce the risks of near-sightedness by changing a few environmental factors.

Easy ways to create an eye-healthy lifestyle in your homes:

· Encourage your child to be outdoors as much as possible

· Golden 20-20-20 rule: Take a 20-second break for every 20 minutes spent on close-up work and look at something 20 feet (about six metres) away

· Screen display settings: Grey backgrounds are easier on your eyes than a white one

· Clean screens regularly

· Blink frequently

· Ensure that your child sits at an arm’s length away from the screen. They should check the distance by giving the screen a ‘high five’

· Screen protection in the form of an anti-glare coating or blue-protection layer on lenses, even if your child sees well

· Proper lighting: Ensure that your child does not sit in front of the computer where there is excessive bright light

· A comprehensive eye examination annually.

As the future of children’s education remains uncertain, parents and teachers should take initiative and incorporate easy eye health strategies to protect children’s eyesight.