Screen time and your child's eyes: signs they may need glasses

Children spend more hours than ever on tablets, phones and online classes, and parents often ask whether all that screen time is hurting their eyes. Nearsightedness, or myopia, is becoming more common in children worldwide, and more near work with less time outdoors is part of the picture. The tricky part is that kids rarely say their vision is blurry, because they assume everyone sees the way they do.

Signs worth watching for

You often spot the problem through behavior rather than complaints. Look for these:

• Sitting very close to the TV, or holding a tablet or book close to the face.
• Squinting to see the board, the screen or across a room.
• Frequent headaches or eye rubbing, especially after school or screen time.
• Tilting the head or covering one eye to focus.
• Losing their place when reading, or avoiding reading and close work.
• Falling attention in class that turns out to be trouble seeing the board.

One or two of these now and then is not proof of anything. A pattern is a reason to get their eyes checked.

Habits that protect young eyes

• Encourage outdoor time. Regular time outdoors in daylight is linked with a lower chance of developing myopia in children. It is one of the simplest things you can do.
• Use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes of near work, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Set screen distance and lighting. Keep devices at a comfortable arm's length and the room well lit, not a bright screen in a dark room.
• Build in breaks. Swap some screen time for play, sport or reading printed books at a normal distance.

Why regular eye tests matter for kids

Children's eyes change quickly as they grow, and a grade can shift within a school year. Catching a change early means clearer vision for learning and, where a child is becoming myopic, a chance to discuss options with an eye care professional. Uncorrected vision can quietly hold a child back at school, and it is easy to fix once it is found.

An eye test for a child is gentle and straightforward, and it gives you a clear answer rather than a guess. If your child already wears glasses, a yearly check keeps the grade current.

What to ask for in store

Book a Vision7 eye test at your nearest Vision Express store for your child. The seven-step exam measures their grade, checks that their eyes work together and screens their eye health, so you get an answer instead of a guess about whether screens are the problem.

If they need glasses, ask for Opulens Advanced 1.60 at the counter. It is thinner and lighter than a standard lens, which matters on a small face and on a pair that has to survive a school bag. If your child is already myopic and the grade is climbing year on year, ask the optometrist about Hoya MiYOSMART, Essilor Stellest or Shamir Optimee. These are spectacle lenses that correct vision normally while being designed to slow how fast myopia progresses, and whether they suit your child is a clinical decision made in the consultation room. Free lifetime ultrasonic cleaning and free lifetime custom fitting and adjustment come with every pair, and children's glasses need adjusting more often than anyone's.