Research shows that it is not good for children's eyes to look at the screen of a smartphone or tablet a lot. 25 percent of 13-year-olds are nearsighted. How did that happen? And what about our own eyes?
Many children look too often at close objects. Smartphone use is not only bad for the eyes, reading a book also has that effect.
Why is looking at close objects bad for children's eyes? Your eyes are mainly made for looking into the distance. When you look at something close by, your eyes struggle to focus. In children, the eyes are not yet fully grown, if they often look at objects close by, the eyes adapt to them. The eyeball then becomes more oval. Seeing up close is easier, but the distance becomes blurrier.
What about adult eyes?
In adults, the eyes are fully grown and the damage is less. Your eyes can get tired looking at a screen.
How do you prevent myopia? Bad eyes are largely genetically determined, but the lifestyle in children certainly has an influence. After 20 minutes of screen time, have children look at something in the distance for 20 seconds. That is also recommended for yourself. Also make sure that children play outside enough, preferably a total of two hours a day. Daylight is good for eye development.
