Eye Health and Technological Displays
With the rapid introduction of developing technologies into our lives, unfortunately, some diseases that were not common in childhood before have also reached childhood.
For example, with the increasing use of tablets, smartphones and computers, dry eye unfortunately appears at a very young age.
In children with stinging and foreign body sensation in the eye due to dry eye, tic-like involuntary movements are more common.
Today, myopia is the subject that ophthalmologists all over the world are working on the most. It is a fact that myopia occurs at an earlier age, its frequency increases and myopia progresses faster all over the world. Myopia that occurs at an early age and increases rapidly will result in excessive elongation of the eye and consequent thinning and tearing of the retinal layer and an increase in the number of myopia that can threaten vision, which we call degenerative myopia, which can lead to vision loss.
In the development of myopia, it has been found that focusing on close distances for a long time and continuous contractions in the eye muscles trigger myopia. Focusing on the far distance and spending time outdoors are known to prevent myopia.
In short, unfortunately, smartphones, tablets and digital devices that families put in the hands of babies and toddlers to distract them, feed them and silence them unfortunately trigger myopia from infancy and myopia progresses rapidly.
In terms of public eye health, we recommend that children spend more time outdoors, minimize the use of tablets, smartphones and computers or take breaks at short intervals.
As for families, we should at least set an example for our children by distancing ourselves from technological devices in the presence of our children, which will make it easier for the child to follow the rules.