Ravina Sewani

Eyestrain is a symptom, not an eye disease. Eyestrain occurs when eyes get tired from intense use, such as driving a car for extended periods, reading, or working at the computer. Causes:<ul><li>Looking at digital device screens</li><li>Reading without pausing</li><li>Being exposed to bright light or glare</li><li>Having an underlying eye problem, such as dry eyes or uncorrected vision (refractive error)</li><li>Being stressed or fatigued</li><li>Being exposed to dry moving air from a fan, heating or air-conditioning system</li></ul>In children, the most common cause of eyestrain is the prolonged use of screen in day-to-day life. Effects of excess screen time on children's eyes:<ul><li>Blurry vision</li><li>Watery, dry, itchy, or red eyes</li><li>Double vision</li><li>Headaches</li><li>Sore or tired eyes</li><li>Burning in eyes</li><li>Sore neck, shoulders or back</li><li>Increased sensitivity to light</li><li>Difficulty concentrating</li></ul> Remedies to soothe eyes after excessive screen time: Adjust the lighting: When watching television, keep the room softly lit. When reading printed materials or doing close work, try to position the light source behind your child and direct the light onto the page or task. Take breaks: Ask your child to take occasional breaks and ask them to rest their eyes by looking away from the digital screen. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, encourage your child to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Blink often: Children get so engrossed in screens that they blink less than usual which can contribute to dry eyes. Blinking produces tears that moisten and refresh eyes. Keep reminding your child to blink often. Reduce glare: Place an anti-glare cover over the screen so that the screens are easy on your child. Cut down your child's screen use an hour or 2 before bed. Keep distance: Ask your child to keep the screens 20 to 28 inches away from their eyes. Computer use glasses: If your child is facing extreme irritation in his/her eyes, get them to wear computer-use glasses which will protect their eyes from the screen's glare.

The digital age has taken a toll on the eye health of children. We can completely avoid the use of screens but we can keep it in check.

Eyestrain and eye care after a prolonged screen time

Palak Vyas

Tearing is a normal function of the eye. But when tear ducts get blocked due to infection and inflammation, tears well up in the eye and fall excessively; this is called "eye watering". In newborns, the condition usually resolves itself within a few weeks. Common causes of watery eyes:<ul><li>Allergies</li><li>Blocked tear duct</li><li>Common cold</li><li>Dry eyes</li><li>Ingrown hair lashes</li><li>Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)</li><li>Stye (a red, painful lump near the edge of the child’s eyelid)</li><li>Tear duct infection</li><li>Eye injury</li><li>Chemical splash in the eye</li></ul> Symptoms associated with watery eyes:<ul><li>Eye pain</li><li>Eye infection</li><li>Runny nose</li><li>Vision impairment</li><li>Sneezing</li><li>Swelling in the eyes</li><li>Redness in the eyes</li></ul> Treating eye watering:<ul><li>Sometimes a sticky liquid may form around the baby's eye or eyes. You can use a piece of cotton wool that has been soaked in sterile water to clean the eyes. Make sure to boil the water to make it sterile and then cool enough before dabbing it on the child’s eyes with cotton wool.</li><li>Sometimes tears can be relieved by gently massaging the tear ducts. Apply light pressure with the finger and thumb to the outside of the nose.</li><li>If the situation persists for more than a day, consult a doctor.</li></ul>

The problem of constant tears usually resolves within a few weeks in a newborn. If eye watering is accompanied with other problems, you might want to consult a eye specialist for your child.

Treating eye watering

Read the article to know how you can hep maintain the health of your child's eyes after constant use of screens.

effects of screen on eyes

Read the article to know how you can hep maintain the health of your child's eyes after constant use of screens.

Eyestrain and eye care after a prolonged screen time

Treating eye watering

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