New gadgets causing kids familiar problems
By Tim O?Connell
It?s not a new problem, just an upgraded one-but the strain being placed on our eyes through inadequate lighting still has the potential for long term damage, warn experts. It?s been a common practice amongst generations of New Zealanders, but now concerns are being raised about the effect that reading or texting with inadequate lighting is having on the population. Independent optometry authority EYEPRO has released information which highlights the need for Kiwis to keep an eye on how they are reading or viewing objects as a way of preventing short sightedness in the future. In a modern take on the old practice of reading in the dark, parents are being warned that thousands of Kiwi kids could be ruining their eyesight by taking their cellphones to bed at night. ?Something like 20 per cent of our children become short sighted or myopic and research has linked this to eye-strain, some of it caused by looking at close objects,? said EYEPRO spokesperson, Chris Clark. ?Banning the cellphone in the bed will help children to protect their eyesight ? and get more sleep!? Mr Clark says reading in low light means the brain has to ?strain? to work out what we are seeing. But according to one local optometrist, the impact of such strain may not be seen until the damage is done. Kevin O?Connor from Visique Optometrists admits there hasn?t been any increase in parents bringing their children in for assessment. ?I haven?t noticed anything significant of late or at least nothing out of the ordinary,? he said. Nonetheless, Mr O?Connor was quick to reinforce the seriousness of long term neglect on young and old. ?Things like this can take quite a while to develop, and generally it would take a lot of exposure before people start to notice it.? Mr O?Connor echoes the sentiments of Mr Clark in suggesting that the best way to prevent further damage is to simply discourage cellphones from being used in their rooms or at least in the dark. ?I have kids of my own, and I definitely wouldn?t be allowing them to do anything like that.? The studies also suggested that spending too much time inside and spending long periods reading or at a computer without breaks may contribute to The solution, says Mr Clark, is to install adequate task lighting over work surfaces or in the home, and to take short breaks every 15 minutes or so from near tasks.
