Myopia in children has doubled in the past 20 years and is appearing earlier and earlier [1] . In recent months, your children may have been looking at screens more often than usual. How to reduce the negative repercussions of screens on their eyes?
The famous screens
The Canadian Pediatric Society does not recommend the use of screens before the age of two. From 2 to 5 years old, the recommendation is less than one hour a day and two hours a day for 5 to 17 year olds. In times of a pandemic, the recommendations are, let's say, to be taken with a grain of salt! How to compensate for effects in front of the screen? “It is certain that the time spent in front of the screens for school does not count, specifies Yves Michaud, optometrist at Maison Philémon . Children who spend time in front of screens tend to have dry eyes because the eyes blink less, eye fatigue, and even more myopia because the eyes are constantly straining. To mitigate the effects, we recommend taking breaks to play in the sand , jump rope, play cup -and-ball, rubber band game… ”
How to protect the eyes from the sun?
As frequent outdoor play is recommended, eye protection against UVA and UVB rays is crucial. The sunglasses are flexible, resistant to scratches and impacts and have a certain guarantee. If you have a child who has a habit of tossing their glasses when you're in a stroller or car, you'll need a silicone clip. A hat or cap is also recommended to protect the eyelids from the sun coming from above.
To read more: Everything for little feet!
[1] Order of optometrists of Quebec, 2020, Vision and the child. Retrieved from: www.ooq.org/fr/la-vision-et-lenfant
