Digital technology has become an integral part of children’s lives both in the classroom and at home, and it’s predicted that by 2028 – the year when students entering kindergarten this fall will graduate high school – many schools will rely heavily on computer simulations for instruction and will even incorporate virtual worlds into curriculums.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is an eye-related problem caused by too much time on a computer, cell phone or tablet. 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, making comprehensive eye exams essential. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends parents take children for an eye exam by an optometrist soon after six months of age, again by age three and annually thereafter. It’s also important that a student’s screen time is monitored at school and at home.

According to the AOA’s 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. Optometrists are closely monitoring new research surrounding the increasing amount of time today’s children spend inside on electronic devices and the decreasing time spent playing outside. New studies suggest a lack of exposure to sunlight could affect the growth and development of the eyes and vision, possibly contributing to an increase in the number of cases of myopia, or nearsightedness, in younger people in recent years.

“Twenty-first century children have had access to electronic devices their entire lives,” Dr. Shawn Burns, Optometrist at Family Vision Center, said. “Since technology use is expected to continue to climb, we need to make sure that children and parents are aware of the visual risks associated with staring at screens for long periods of time. We encourage parents to take the proper precautions to help alleviate eye and vision problems such as scheduling an annual eye exam.”

Does your child exhibit any of the following symptoms of CVS: eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes or neck and shoulder pain? If so, please call us at Family Vision Center and schedule an eye exam for your child today. Your optometrist can test your child for CVS and treat the problem. Vision problems can cause trouble in the classroom and make learning harder for your student. Treating CVS and limiting screen time will help your student keep an eye on success in school.

About the American Eye-Q® survey:

The tenth annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From February 19—March 4, 2015, PSB conducted 1,000 online interviews among Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of the U.S. general population. (Margin of error is plus or minus 3.10 percentage points at a 95% confidence level)