What Does Too Much Screen Time Do to Your Children's Health?

The Effect of Prolonged Used of Electronic Device on Children
Children are spending more times on digital devices, prolonged screen time exposure not only harms their eyes, but it can also adversely affect their brain health. This is due to the fact that our eyes and brain are working together through the interconnection via optic nerve.

How does prolonged screen time exposure induce eye complications in children?

1. Short term eye complications – Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)
Prolonged exposure to blue light emitted from digital devices could damage and inflame our eye cells, developing to computer vision syndrome (CVS).

Symptoms of computer vision syndrome: 

Dry eyes

Eye fatigue

Blurry vision

2. Long term eye complications – Short-sightedness and Astigmatism

	Frequent eye fatigue due to prolonged use of digital devices could be resulting in short sightedness, a common vision problem that causes distant objects to appear blurred.
	When children are experiencing CVS symptoms such as dry eyes and blurry vision, they tend to rub their eyes for temporary relief. This can cause damage to eyes, leading to astigmatism, a common vision problem that causes both near and distant objects to appear blurry and distorted.

Prolonged screen time exposure might hurt more than your kid’s eyes
Increased blue light exposure can cause inflammation in the eyes, these inflammatory substances tend to spread from eyes to the brain via optic nerve. This can damage and inflame our brain cells, contributing to various brain complications.

1. Emotional symptoms and poor memory & concentration Inflammation in brain cells can greatly reduce the level of calming hormone, leading to anxiety and depression symptoms. It also reduces sleep hormone, affecting sleeping quality, leading to decreased memory and concentration in children.
2. Delay in brain growth and development Brain inflammation in children can potentially deplete the nutrients in their brain, resulting in delayed brain growth and development.
3. Poor leaning capabilities With the development of emotional symptoms, poor memory and concentration, as well as delayed brain growth, as an overall all can affect the children’s learning capabilities.

Good practices for tech-smart kids

• Every 20 minutes of device time, take a 20 seconds vision breaks to reset and refocus the eye by focusing on an object 20 feet away.
• Keep devices at least an arm's length away from your child's face.
• Bring them more for outdoor activities.

Foods supporting better eye and brain health

For eye health:

	• Carrots: Packed with beta carotene and vitamin A, essential for maintaining good eye health.
	• Eggs: A source of lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins, which protect against cataracts and dry eye.
	• Spinach & Kale: Rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C, supporting eye health and reducing dry eye.
	• Sweet potatoes: High in beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A that helps with night vision.

For brain health:

	• Eggs: Rich in choline, vitamin B12, protein, and selenium, essential for brain development and cognitive function.
	• Berries: Provide anti-inflammatory benefits and support learning and memory through new nerve cell production.
	• Salmon: High in omega-3 fatty acids which are vital for brain development.
	• Broccoli: Useful source of vitamin K, which is known to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower.