As summer winds down and a new school year approaches, it’s essential to establish healthy routines for your child. Balancing screen time with real-world activities is more important than ever, given the growing use of technology in schools. Students today spend an average of 4-6 hours daily on screens, with teenagers reaching up to 9 hours.1 Maintaining good eye health is crucial, particularly for students, since 80% of their learning is visual.2 Excessive screen time can disrupt sleep and impact overall well-being, especially for young children whose eyes are still developing.
The Importance of Blue Light Protection
Blue light, a type of high-energy visible light, is emitted from digital screens on laptops, tablets and smartphones. Excessive exposure, especially for young children whose eyes are still developing, may have several negative impacts.3
- Disrupted Sleep: Blue light can interfere with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle by suppressing melatonin production. Insufficient sleep can lead to mood swings, difficulty concentrating and lower academic performance.
- Discomfort: Long hours spent staring at screens may contribute to dry or irritated eyes and headaches.
- Potential Long-Term Effects: Some studies suggest excessive blue light may produce oxidative and phototoxic damage to cells in the cornea and retina of the eye.4
Eyesafe® Blue Light Screen Protectors
Eyesafe offers screen protectors for all your child’s devices, including tablets, laptops, monitors and phones. These screen protectors not only guard against scratches and cracks, but also reduce blue light to support eye comfort and sleep.
- Advanced technology filters up to 60% of blue light (435-440 nanometers)
- Developed with eye doctors to provide superior protection
- Maintains vivid and accurate color (no yellow tint)
- Patented, tested and certified by TÜV Rheinland, a leader in independent product testing
Healthy Screen Habits
In addition to using Eyesafe blue light screen protectors, here are some tips for promoting healthy screen habits in your child:
- Set Screen Time Limits: Establish reasonable daily screen time limits and encourage breaks to reduce eye strain.
- Encourage Outdoor Play: Outdoor time exposes children to natural light, which helps counteract the effects of blue light.
- Create Tech-Free Zones: Designate certain areas of your home as tech-free zones to promote healthy screen-free activities.
As students rely more on technology for learning, connection, and entertainment, it’s essential to be mindful of their exposure to blue light. By incorporating blue light protection and healthy screen habits, you can help ensure your child has a productive and balanced school year. For more information about Eyesafe blue light protection, visit https://shop.eyesafe.com.
This article does not provide medical advice, and its products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition. Please consult your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about your health. Visit https://eyesafe.com/disclaimer for more information.
1 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Screen Time and Children, Feb. 2020.
2 College of Optometrists in Vision Development, https://www.covd.org/page/learning
3 Consolidated research available at https://eyesafe.com/research
4 Cougnard-Gregoire A, Merle BMJ, Aslam T, Seddon JM, Aknin I, Klaver CCW, Garhöfer G, Layana AG, Minnella AM, Silva R, Delcourt C. Blue Light Exposure: Ocular Hazards and Prevention-A Narrative Review. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023 Apr;12(2):755-788. doi: 10.1007/s40123-023-00675-3. Epub 2023 Feb 18. PMID: 36808601; PMCID: PMC9938358.