BLUE LIGHT

Eye problems, possible risks and
​alternative solutions

Children experience massive, early use of and exposure to all types of screens such as smartphones, computers, tablets, consoles and television. According to one study, children between the ages of 4 and 14 years of age watch TV on average 2 hours and 15 minutes a day. In addition, according to the Ordre des Optometristes du Quebec, 20-25% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 have various visual problems requiring treatment by an Optometrist. Health professionals and early childhood experts are warning parents that interacting with screens has become a real addiction. Without realizing this, parents allow their children to be exposed to many risks that can contribute to a number of eye problems. Without knowing it, they expose their children to many risks and confront them with the appearance of many eye troubles.​

Blue light a danger to your child's eyes

The blue light emitted by these screens is very harmful to children’s eyes, which are still vulnerable. It has a direct impact on their health and causes multiple disorders including headaches. Blue light is also responsible for visual fatigue and sleep disorders because blue light exposure reduces our natural production of Melatonin and makes it harder for us to feel sleepy when night-time falls.

​It increases the chance that a child will become astigmatic, myopic or hyperopic in adulthood. Children do not always wear eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses. According to the Ordre des Optometristes du Quebec, “only one third of children are examined by an Optometrist before entering school” and “61% of Canadian parents mistakenly think they can detect their child’s eye problems.”

"WE RECOMMEND ZEISS DURAVISION BLUEPROTECT​"

A child’s crystalline lens hardly filters UV and does not filter the blue part of the light spectrum. Therefore, it is important to have an Optometrist perform an eye exam so that a child can be fitted with a pair of glasses specifically designed to block the harmful effects of blue light. Glasses that guard against blue light are available for children. You can buy your child protective ophthalmic lenses that are made with a special coating created to reflect and block the penetration of blue light. With this coating, the harmful part of the blue light does not reach your child’s eyes - by preventing its entry, contrasts are improved and flicker and visual fatigue are diminished.

​Ask your Optometrist about the types of glasses that will best protect your child’s eyes against light from screens. 

Nicolette Raubenheimer
B. OPTOM (UDW) MC OPTOM UK

Realizing the need for scholars to have the privilege of studying with spectacles offering the advantage of “Blue Light Protection” yet understanding the financial implications of affording these lenses, our child vision care Optometrist Nicolette Raubenheimer approached Carl Zeiss and managed to secure 30 FREE pairs for those in need. Please contact any of our 3 practices for further details.

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