Healthy + Happy
Eyes on the Prize
All that screen time can take a toll. Here’s how to keep kids’ (and your own!) eyes healthy: Teach kids to take breaks. “The average person blinks fifteen times a minute,” says Pagan-Duran. “But when we’re staring for an extended period of time, that goes down to half or a third of that number, which can lead to dryness and discomfort.” Common signs of eye strain include blurry vision, headaches, burning eyes or tearing. Reading or writing for hours at a time may also cause Continued on page 14 >>>
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NJFAMILY.COM | APRIL / MAY 2021
©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / CHINNAPONG
It’s no secret your kids are spending more time than ever staring at computers and other digital devices these days. So it’s natural to worry about what all that screen time is doing to their vision. “It’s difficult to set screen time limits with virtual learning and kids connecting with friends and family online,” says Brenda PaganDuran, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and in private practice at Westwood Ophthalmology Associates. “But there are other ways to help prevent digital eye strain and protect your child’s vision.”
By Arricca Elin SanSone
