{"id":36422,"date":"2020-10-31T22:54:34","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T02:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mominthecity.com\/?p=36422"},"modified":"2024-02-06T12:34:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T17:34:21","slug":"eye-health-tips-for-remote-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mominthecity.com\/eye-health-tips-for-remote-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Important Eye Health Tips For Remote Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Important<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of my biggest concerns about remote learning is the effect of so much screen time on students\u2019 eyes. My youngest son is nearsighted anyway so I definitely didn\u2019t want to put more strain on his eyes. That is why sought out some eye health tips from various professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Jeff Kegarise<\/a>, a board-certified optometrist and the staff of EyeJust Blue Light Blocking Screen Protectors<\/a> were kind enough to share their eye health tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, I wanted to learn more about digital eye strain<\/strong>. The causes include prolonged use of digital devices and overexposure to blue light. Symptoms include the following: overall eye discomfort (tired\/red\/itchy\/dry eyes), blurred vision, headaches\/migraines, increased sensitivity to light, difficulty concentrating, eye twitching and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye Health Tips To Minimize Digital Eye Strain <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Positioning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Position computer devices further away<\/em>.<\/strong> The closer devices are, the harder your\/your kids\u2019 eyes will need to work in order to focus on them. In addition, keeping devices two feet away reduces blue light exposure by 75%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjust the position of the computer.<\/strong> <\/em>The computer monitor and the keyboard should be positioned to conform to the child\u2019s size. Make sure the screen isn\u2019t too high in the child\u2019s field of view. A report by the National Institutes of Health<\/a> suggests an adjustable chair is the best option to get the height just right according to Dr. Kegarise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Lighting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dim the screen brightness on devices.<\/strong> <\/em>Avoid eye strain by matching the brightness of the screen to the brightness in the room. You definitely don\u2019t want a computer screen to be the light source of your home classroom or workspace.

Ensure that rooms are properly lit.<\/strong> <\/em>To build upon the above, make sure each room has a proper light source so that you\/your children aren\u2019t looking at a device in a dimly lit room with dilated pupils, which will allow more blue light into the eyes than necessary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose the right lighting.<\/em> <\/strong>The type of lighting used in the students\u2019 workspace can make a difference. Incandescent lights work better than fluorescent lights because they give off less glare, Kegarise says. \u201cIt\u2019s also better if the light is placed over your shoulder than if it\u2019s shining straight down on the screen because that will cause fewer reflections,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Blinking\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remind them to blink.<\/em> <\/strong>Parents should remind children to blink when they spend a lot of time in front of a screen. That helps spread tears across the eyes, keeping the eyes lubricated and aiding in the prevention of dry eyes, Kegarise says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The 20\/20\/20 Rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Suggested by the American Academy of Ophthalmology<\/a>, the 20\/20\/20 rule encourages people to take breaks from their screens every 20 minutes by shifting their eyes to look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Blue Light Blocking Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use blue light blocking screen protectors<\/em>.<\/strong> Depending on what you do (or kids having online school) limiting your screen time may not be an option. EyeJust blue light blocking screen protectors <\/a>not only block blue light at the source (helping to prevent damage to you\/your children\u2019s eyes) but also protect your screen with crystal clear, scratch-proof, optical grade tempered glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue light blocking glasses are another option<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em> Parenting.com has a helpful article called The Best Blue Light Blocking Glasses for Kids<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More About Blue Light<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blue light (HEV, high energy visible light) is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Common sources of blue light include mobile phones, tablets and computers.

Blue light can pass through the cornea and lens of your eye. Research has shown blue light can disrupt the body\u2019s natural sleep cycles by suppressing melatonin production. It\u2019s also been linked to premature aging and hyperpigmentation.

Symptoms of overexposure to blue light include eye strain, feeling of tired\/dry eyes. Studies suggest continued exposure to blue light over time could lead to damaged retinal cells and increase the risk of macular degeneration.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Device Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Avoid using devices within 1-2 hours of bedtime<\/em>.<\/strong> For example, finish the homework on a computer well before lights out and then switch to a device-free activity like reading. This enables children\u2019s circadian rhythm to kick in, ensuring high-quality sleep for their developing minds\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also time limit apps you can add to your children\u2019s devices to limit their usage each day.<\/strong><\/em> Leverage one of these or Apple\u2019s Screen Time<\/a> feature, which allows you to set a daily time allotment for apps and blocks them from usage once the limit is reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Proper Nutrition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eating a proper diet is important for several reasons including the health of your eyes.<\/em><\/strong> Green, leafy vegetables are a great way to get essential nutrients. Eating fish can help reduce dry eye symptoms, particularly due to the omega-3 fatty acids. There\u2019s truth to eating a rainbow!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Adequate Sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On a more general note \u2014 A healthy immune system can fight off infection. A sleep-deprived immune system doesn\u2019t work as well.<\/strong><\/em> During sleep, your body products cytokines, which help fight off infection (of any kind!) Less sleep means fewer cytokines, leaving you more susceptible to getting sick.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Spending Time Outdoors\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Kegarise, forty percent of children develop nearsightedness, and it\u2019s an even higher percentage for those who have a parent who is nearsighted. Studies also show that less time outdoors contributes to more nearsightedness progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Dr. Jeff Kegarise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Jeff Kegarise, a board-certified optometrist and clinical management expert, is co-author with his wife, Dr. Susan Kegarise, of One Patient at a Time: The K2 Way Playbook for Healthcare & Business Success <\/em>(www.theK2Way.com<\/a>).

He has lectured for many years on clinical disease, and his management methods were recognized by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Kegarise is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

EyeJust Blue Light Blocking Screen Protector<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

EyeJust Blue Light Blocking Screen Protectors <\/a>defend your children\u2019s eyes and sleep from harmful blue light rays. Founder Gigi Mortimer developed EyeJust because her son couldn\u2019t sleep.

When she realized that it was related to late-night tablet viewing, she set out to find a solution to cut blue light at the source. Easy to apply, EyeJust is the first line of defense with blue light blocking technology embedded in the screen protector. As tested by doctors at UC Irvine, EyeJust blocks more blue light than any other filter that was on the market at testing time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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