{"id":20354,"date":"2021-12-23T18:53:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T18:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=20354"},"modified":"2022-01-05T07:15:06","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T07:15:06","slug":"the-truth-about-gaming-and-your-childs-vision","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/healthy-eyes-for-life-8-ideas-to-teach-children\/the-truth-about-gaming-and-your-childs-vision\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Gaming and Your Child\u2019s Vision"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the C.S. Mott Children\u2019s Hospital, Michigan (2020), 86% of parents believe their child spends too much time playing video games \u2014 but can gaming harm your child\u2019s vision?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The debate around whether video games have a harmful effect on children\u2019s mental and physical well-being has been raging for decades.<\/p>\n

Many parents worry about what effect their child\u2019s indulgence in video games will have on them socially, emotionally and physically. What many parents don\u2019t consider is how video games may be helping or harming their child\u2019s vision and eye health.<\/p>\n

Here are some signs that you child may be spending too much time on their gaming device:<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Dry eyes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Blinking is an essential to keeping your eyes hydrated throughout the day.<\/p>\n

Each time you blink, your eyelids spread tears over the surfaces of your eyes, to effectively lubricate and moisturize your eyes.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, multiple studies have shown that people who look at digital screens – including the computers, phones and tablets on which video games are played –\u00a0 tend to blink 66% less often than at other times.<\/p>\n

Dry eye<\/a> signs include:<\/p>\n