Since 1971, the incidences of nearsightedness in the U.S. have nearly doubled, accounting for almost half the population.
But parents and eye doctors are seeing more than just nearsightedness in kids and teens today. The culprit? Most likely digital screens.
Teens spend, on average, seven hours a day on their phones, tablets and computers. For a “tween,” ages 8-13, it’s a little less, at 5 hours a day, according to a survey by Common Sense Media,
which has been tracking this since 2003.
Dr. Glen Steele, an optometrist at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn., said kids will push through the pain to keep playing games or scrolling on social media. He thinks it’s leading to prolonged enlarged pupils, a phenomenon Steele calls defocus.
So, what can we do to limit screen time and take better care of our eyes?
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