{"id":8591,"date":"2020-10-11T19:57:56","date_gmt":"2020-10-11T19:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=8591"},"modified":"2021-07-15T08:06:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T08:06:05","slug":"e-learning-without-eyestrain-part-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/8-tips-to-protect-your-childs-vision\/e-learning-without-eyestrain-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"E-learning Without Eyestrain: Part 1\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author: <\/b>Dr. Nate Bonilla-Warford<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Bright Eyes Family Vision Care<\/strong><\/p>\n

A visual health guide for students during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/b><\/h2>\n

If your child is experiencing screen-related eye fatigue, they may have an underlying vision problem.<\/b><\/p>\n

This year, there is one topic that has been coming up over and over again in the Optometrist\u2019s exam room, and that is school.<\/b><\/p>\n

Let’s face it, school is challenging this year for everyone\u2014 students, parents, teachers, and administrators.<\/p>\n

Recently, I have been\u00a0 asked many questions\u00a0 about vision, specifically from parents whose children are e-learning.<\/p>\n

I understand these concerns well, not only because I help my patients every day, but also because I have two e-learners of my own: Nora, an 8th grader, and Javier, a 5th grader. As a family, we are experiencing this right now!<\/p>\n

Every child’s case is unique and they need to do what is best for them.<\/p>\n

E-learning can be the most visually stressful type of education because it is a set schedule of screen time for a large portion of the day, every day.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In a classroom setting, the children move around, look up at the board and at friends to provide visual novelty.\u00a0 In a virtual school and homeschool setting, the schedule can be much more flexible to allow for visual breaks.<\/p>\n

Teachers are working as hard as they can right now, but they are not children’s vision experts.<\/p>\n

Based on my knowledge of children’s vision and the research I have done, I have listed some helpful guidelines below to ensure that your children get the most out of e-learning, without as much eyestrain.<\/i><\/p>\n

What is eye strain?<\/b><\/h2>\n

For many years, Optometrists have been helping office workers who suffer from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)<\/a>, a collection of eye and vision problems related to excessive computer use.<\/p>\n

It was originally thought that CVS was an adult problem, but now research has shown that children can (and do!) experience this problem, too.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

This can be compounded by the increased screen time and the general stress of e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Common symptoms from long-term computer use include:<\/p>\n