Image Courtesy of Arsenii Palivoda on iStock

So, the question is: do screens make your child's eyesight worse?

Whether your kiddo is playing video games, studying, or just relaxing, most of his/her activities today revolve around staring at screens – be it a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

The good news is that eye strain is not a long-term problem, but it does cause extreme discomfort and makes getting through a school day a very difficult task.

Your children can easily incorporate many healthy habits into their daily lives to minimize the risk of eye strain.

Here are 5 fantastic tips to protect your child’s eyes from screens:

1. Don't forget to blink – often!

We tend to blink much less when looking at our phones, tablets, or laptops. Advise your child to blink as it redistributes the tear film and lubricates the eyes.

2. Take a break

Every 20 minutes spent using a screen, you should train them to look away at something 20 feet away from him for a total of 20 seconds.

3. Minimize screen glare

Adjust the screen light and font size as per their comfort level and use an anti-reflection screen on the monitor.

4. Wear blue light glasses

There are special glasses to manage the blue light effects. They're not expensive and can make a big difference in protecting your child's eyes from blue light.

5. Keep a proper distance between your child and the device

Do you ever find him holding his phone a little too close? The optimal distance to have a smartphone is 16 – 18 inches away. Give it a try! Their eyes will thank you later.

All these tips facilitate a healthy use of technology to evolve and grow in this modern society and protect our eyes and care for our health!

Ahmed Ragab is a fourth-year student at Cairo University, where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in physical therapy. He is a passionate email marketer, who helps develop original email marketing strategies.