Thousands of Minnesota students are heading back to school, with many resuming distance learning. But all that screen time could be damaging to their eyes.
"This is all about a blue light problem, said Dr. Scott Edmonds recently join UnitedHealthcare as the chief eye care officer.
"Blue light is the number one thing that's emitted from screens."
He said eye care is more important now than ever before with the COVID 19 pandemic, which has prompted many people to spend more time on digital devices and required a move to distance learning for millions of students nationwide, including in Minnesota.
"There are some things to do to help, like keeping their children 30 inches away from the screen," he said. "We like them to take a break every 20 minutes, and look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a rest."
He said children are now spending an average of 13 hours per day on digital devices, potentially contributing to digital eye strain and increasing the risk of nearsightedness.
Some signs to look out for?
"We see kids that are too close to the television or who blink or squint a lot," he said. "They feel dizzy or nauseated, and they have to stop. Those are all tips that children are having difficulty with their eyes, and they need an eye exam."
Too much blue light also keeps us awake.
"When we sit in front of our screens, and phones at night, and the melatonin is not released, keeping us awake."
Dr. Edmonds said children may be especially at risk, as their still-developing eyes generally allow for more high-energy blue light to reach their retinas; they may also hold devices closer to their face, leading to a higher amount of potentially harmful blue light exposure.