Author: Green Wellness
Vision is arguably the most important of the five senses. In fact, eye health among children is a critical aspect of their overall growth, development, and performance. However, the excessive use of gadgets and digital screens nowadays has raised concerns about the potential impact on children’s eyes.
- Academic Performance – Good vision is essential for learning. Children with uncorrected vision problems may struggle with reading and writing, impacting their academic performance.
- Developmental Milestones – Proper vision is important for the development of fine and gross motor skills. Children rely on their eyesight to learn to crawl, walk, and interact with their environment.
- Safety – Good vision helps children to be aware of their surroundings, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
- Quality of Life – Children with good vision are more likely to participate in activities they enjoy, contributing to a better quality of life.
What is Blue Light?
In today’s digital age, screens are an inevitable part of our children’s lives – from TVs to smartphones to tablets to computers. While offering entertainment, education, and helping us stay connected, too much screen time can be harmful, especially for children’s eyesight. As parents, it’s essential to be aware of the potential negative effects of blue light exposure emitted from screens.
Blue light is a bright, artificial light that comes from screens like TVs, smartphones, tablets, and computers. It’s everywhere, especially in today’s digital world! While it helps us see things on our screens, too much exposure can cause more harm than good, impacting our eyes and overall health.
How does Blue Light affect our child’s vision & health?
Think of it like the sun – it’s good for us in moderation, but too much can be uncomfortable.
- Blue light can cause oxidative damage to the delicate eye cells and lead to a range of eye problems, including eye strain, dry eyes, and blurred vision.
- Children are susceptible to blue light as they have large pupils and pure crystal lenses. They might easily experience symptoms like headaches, eye irritation, and trouble concentrating.
- A study has found that children exposed to screens before age 3 are more likely to have developed myopia by pre-school age. Myopia is an eye condition that causes blurred vision and is also known as shortsightedness or nearsightedness.
- Blue light can also disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle by suppressing the production of melatonin and keeping children awake, thus affecting their overall well-being. Click here to learn more about how blue light can adversely affect one’s restful night’s sleep.
How much is fine?
With the potential risks in mind, you’re probably wondering how much screen time is fine. While there are many opinions, most experts agree that less screen time is better, especially for infants and toddlers. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends the following guidelines:
BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS
Screen time should be limited to video chatting with an adult.
18 TO 24 MONTHS
Parents can introduce high-quality, educational programming, making sure a parent or caregiver is watching it with the child and talking to them about what they’re watching.
2 TO 5 YEARS
Limit screen time to 1 hour/day of high-quality educational, social, non-violent programming during the week, and up to 3 hours daily on weekends. Parents/caregivers are still encouraged to watch programs with their kids.
(American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2020)
Eye-ing for protection?
Try these 5 simple tips to mitigate the negative effects of excessive screen time in children:
- Set limits on screen time
Establish clear rules regarding screen time, and be consistent in enforcing them. - Follow 20:20:20 rule
For every 20 minutes of screen time, take a 20-second break to look at least 20 feet away. - Be a role model
Demonstrate healthy screen habits by limiting your own screen time and engaging in other activities. Your children are more likely to follow your example. - Encourage alternative activities
Offer a variety of activities to keep them engaged and entertained without screens such as outdoor play, creative pursuits or reading. - Incorporating eye-protecting foods
Foods that contain antioxidants and vitamins like anthocyanins, flavonoids, zeaxanthin, vitamin C and beta-carotene are some great additions to help relieve the common screen time eye symptoms and increase their eyes’ natural protection against dangerous blue light.
Why DDODDOMAM Bilberry & Berries Jelly?
Incorporating DDODDOMAM Bilberry & Berries Jelly into your children’s diet can provide additional support for their vision health. DDODDOMAM Bilberry & Berries Jelly offers a delicious and convenient way to nourish their little eyes.
This specially crafted DDODDOMAM Bilberry & Berries Jelly packed with mixed extract of eight antioxidant-rich ingredients and essential vitamins, including bilberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, goji berry, aronia berry, carrots, cassia seeds, and marigold flower. These ingredients are known for their eye-protecting qualities, helping to combat the oxidative stress caused by screen time and promote healthy vision.
Let’s take proactive steps to protect our children’s eyes and ensure they can see the world clearly for years to come. Interested to know more about DDODDOMAM Bilberry & Berries Jelly? Read HERE.
References
- Higuchi, S., Nagafuchi, Y., Lee, S.-i., & Harada, T. (2014). Influence of light at night on melatonin suppression in children. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 99(9), 3298–3303. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-162
- Yang, G. Y., Huang, L. H., Schmid, K. L., Li, C. G., Chen, J. Y., He, G. H., … Chen, W. Q. (2020). Associations between screen exposure in early life and myopia amongst Chinese preschoolers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1056.
- Hale, L., & Guan, S. (2015). Screen time and sleep among school-aged children and adolescents: a systematic literature review. Sleep medicine reviews, 21, 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.07.007
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2020). Screen Time and Children. Retrieved from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-And-Watching-TV-054.aspx