Dr. Laura's Blog

Kids and electronics. It’s time to take a break.

If your kids are glued to their electronics, it’s a good idea to unglue them.  Screen use may cause vision problems.  Recent research suggest that screens could contribute to the onset of problems including near-sightedness and astigmatism.

Instead, teach your kids to the 20-20-20 rule: after every 20 minutes using a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.  Better yet, go outside!  Research has also shown that kids who spend more time outdoors are less likely to be near-sighted than other kids.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/screen_time/2017/12/21/does_ipad_and_computer_use_harm_kids_eyesight_what_the_medical_research.html