Back to School Eye Exams Awareness

Digital takeover: 5 stats that reinforce back-to-school exams

 “Each year when school starts, we see an increase in kids complaining of symptoms synonymous with eye strain.” Summer vacation likely wasn't a break from electronic devices for many kids, but as school gets back in session, it's blue light—not sunlight—that will sparkle in students' eyes. And that's all the more reason for a back-to-school eye exam.

This year's AOA Ready-for-School public awareness campaign has circulated nationwide since July, promoting the necessity of such exams and pairing it with results from recent AOA surveys that show a stark contrast between parents' and kids' perceptions of digital device use.

"Each year when school starts, we see an increase in kids complaining of symptoms synonymous with eye strain," stated Lori Roberts, O.D., chair of the AOA's New Technology Committee, in the campaign. "Essentially, they're going from being home over the summer with a minimal amount of time spent using their devices back to a classroom full of technology, and their time on devices often doubles, leading to a strain on the eyes."

Digital devices take a toll
The Ready-for-School campaign includes materials that give recommendations for avoiding digital eye strain, including the 20-20-20 rule while using screens: Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and fixate vision on something 20 feet away.

But do parents, and for that matter students, know these recommendations? According to results of the AOA's 2014 American Eye-Q and a children's omnibus survey, the integration of technology into the classroom gives more of a reason for children to get an eye exam, because:

1. Kids are digitally connected longer than parents think. Eighty-three percent of children report using an electronic device more than 3 hours daily, while only 40 percent of parents think their kids exceed that mark; furthermore, 42 percent of kids report 5 hours of use or more versus only 10 percent of parents that think the same thing;
2. All that time can cause eye problems. Eighty percent of children report their eyes have burned, itched, felt tired or had blurry vision after using an electronic device;
3. Kids aren't taking appropriate breaks. Students aren't following the 20-20-20 rule—14 percent report taking a visual break from their device every 20 minutes. A third of kids report taking breaks every few hours or not at all;
4. Most learning happens visually. An estimated 75 to 90 percent of all classroom learning happens through visual pathways—nearly all tasks a child performs depend on good vision;
5. More could be done to get kids in the exam chair. Almost a third of parents report a child should be 3 years or older before visiting the eye doctor for his or her first comprehensive eye exam, while another 28 percent report they don't know when their child should first be seen.

The AOA recommends every child be seen by an optometrist soon after 6 months of age and before the age of 3, and as a result of the pediatric essential health benefit in the Affordable Care Act, children are now covered for yearly comprehensive eye exams through age 18.

Survey Reveals Parents Drastically Underestimate the Time Kids Spend on Electronic Devices

Home and classroom digital device use is up among school-age children; American Optometric Association recommends yearly back-to-school eye exams

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), parents severely underestimate the time their children spend on digital devices. An AOA survey reports that 83 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 estimate they use an electronic device for three or more hours each day. However, a separate AOA survey of parents revealed that only 40 percent of parents believe their children use an electronic device for that same amount of time. Eye doctors are concerned that this significant disparity may indicate that parents are more likely to overlook warning signs and symptoms associated with vision problems due to technology use, such as digital eyestrain.

Eighty percent of children surveyed report experiencing burning, itchy or tired eyes after using electronic devices for long periods of time. These are all symptoms of digital eyestrain, a temporary vision condition caused by prolonged use of technology. Additional symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, loss of focus, blurred vision, double vision or head and neck pain.

"When parents think about their kids' mobile consumption habits, they often don't think about how much time they spend on devices in the classroom," said Lori Roberts, O.D., chair of the AOA's New Technology Committee. "Each year when school starts we see an increase in kids complaining of symptoms synonymous with eye strain. Essentially, they're going from being home over the summer with a minimal amount of time spent using their devices back to a classroom full of technology, and their time on devices often doubles, leading to a strain on the eyes."

Optometrists are also growing increasingly concerned about the kinds of light everyday electronic devices give off - high-energy, short-wavelength blue and violet light - and how those rays might affect and even age the eyes. Today's smartphones, tablets, LED monitors and even flat screen TVs all give off light in this range, as do cool-light compact fluorescent bulbs. Early research shows that overexposure to blue light could contribute to eye strain and discomfort and may lead to serious conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can cause blindness.

When it comes to protecting eyes and vision from digital eyestrain, taking frequent visual breaks is important. Children should make sure they practice the 20-20-20 rule: when using technology or doing near work, take a 20-second break, every 20 minutes and view something 20 feet away. According to the survey, nearly one-third (32 percent) of children go a full hour using technology before they take a visual break instead of every 20 minutes as recommended.

Additionally, children who normally do not require the use of eyeglasses may benefit from glasses prescribed specifically for intermediate distance for computer use. And children who already wear glasses may find their current prescription does not provide optimal vision for viewing a computer screen. An eye doctor can provide recommendations for each individual patient.

The AOA suggests the following guidelines to help prevent or reduce eye and vision problems associated with digital eyestrain:

• Check the height and position of the device. Computer screens should be four to five inches below eye level and 20 to 28 inches away from the eyes. Digital devices should be held a safe distance away from eyes and slightly below eye level.

• Check for glare on the screen. Windows or other light sources should not be directly visible when sitting in front of a computer monitor. If this happens, turn the desk or computer to prevent glare on the screen. Also consider adjusting the brightness of the screen on your digital device or changing its background color.

• Reduce the amount of lighting in the room to match the computer screen. A lower-wattage light can be substituted for a bright overhead light or a dimmer switch may be installed to give flexible control of room lighting.

• Adjust font size. Increase the size of text on the screen of the device to make it easier on your eyes when reading.

• Keep blinking. To minimize the chances of developing dry eye when using a computer or digital device, make an effort to blink frequently. Blinking keeps the front surface of the eye moist.

The AOA recommends every child have an eye exam by an optometrist soon after 6 months of age and before age 3. Children now have the benefit of yearly comprehensive eye exams thanks to the Pediatric Essential Health Benefit in the Affordable Care Act, through age 18.

"Parents should know that vision screenings miss too many children who should be referred to an optometrist for an eye examination to correct vision," added Dr. Roberts. "Eye exams performed by an eye doctor are the only way to diagnose eye and vision diseases and disorders in children. Undiagnosed vision problems can impair learning and can cause vision loss and other issues that significantly impact a child's quality of life."