The Impact of Computers on Children's Vision
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Date: July 2, 2006
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When first introduced, computers were almost exclusively used by adults. Today,
children increasingly use these devices both for education and recreation. Millions
of children use computers on a daily basis at school and at home.
Children can experience many of the same symptoms related to computer use as adults.
Extensive viewing of the computer screen can lead to eye discomfort, fatigue, blurred
vision and headaches. However, some unique aspects of how children use computers
may make them more susceptible than adults to the development of these problems.
The potential impact of computer use on children's vision involves the following
factors:
- Children often have a limited degree of self-awareness . Many children
keep performing an enjoyable task with great concentration until near exhaustion
(e.g., playing video games for hours with little, if any, breaks). Prolonged activity
without a significant break can cause eye focusing (accommodative) problems and
eye irritation.
- Children are very adaptable . Although there are many positive
aspects to their adaptability, children frequently ignore problems that would be
addressed by adults. A child who is viewing a computer screen with a large amount
of glare often will not think about changing the computer arrangement or the surroundings
to achieve more comfortable viewing. This can result in excessive eye strain.
- Children are not the same size as adults . Since children are smaller,
computers don't fit them well. Most computer workstations are arranged for adult
use. Therefore, a child using a computer on a typical office desk often must look
up further than an adult. Since the most efficient viewing angle is slightly downward
about 15 degrees, problems using the eyes together can occur.
- Children often use computers in a home or classroom with less than optimum
lighting . The lighting level for the proper use of a computer is about
half as bright as that normally found in a classroom. Increased light levels can
contribute to excessive glare and problems associated with adjustments of the eye
to different levels of light.
Steps to Visually-Friendly Computer Use Here are some things to consider for children
using a computer:
- Have the child's vision checked . This will make sure that the
child can see clearly and comfortably and can detect any hidden conditions that
may contribute to eye strain. Computer glasses with low amounts of magnification
can reduce the amount of focusing the child must do to maintain clear vision, thus
reducing eye strain.
- Strictly enforce the amount of time that a child can continuously use the
computer . A ten-minute break every hour will minimize the development
of eye focusing problems and eye irritation caused by improper blinking.
- Carefully check the height and arrangement of the computer . The
child's size should determine how the monitor and keyboard are positioned. In many
situations, the computer monitor will be too high in the child's field of view,
the chair too low and the desk too high. A good solution to many of these problems
is an adjustable chair that can be raised for the child's comfort, since it is usually
difficult to lower the computer monitor.
- Carefully check the lighting for glare on the computer screen .
Windows or other light sources should not be directly visible when sitting in front
of the monitor. When this occurs, the desk or computer may be turned to prevent
glare on the screen. Sometimes glare is less obvious. In this case, holding a small
mirror flat against the screen can be a useful way to look for light sources that
are reflecting off of the screen from above or behind. If a light source can be
seen in the mirror, the offending light should be moved or blocked from hitting
the screen. Computer glasses with an anti-glare coating are also recommended to
reduce glare and eye strain.
- Reduce the amount of lighting in the room to match the computer screen
. Often this is very simple in the home. In some cases, a smaller light can be substituted
for the bright overhead light or a dimmer switch can be installed to give flexible
control of room lighting.
Children have different needs to comfortably use a computer. A small amount of effort
can help reinforce appropriate viewing habits and assure comfortable and enjoyable
computer use. For questions concerning this topic please
contact our office. This information provided by the American Optometric
Association.
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