With school, work, and social time all going viral, the amount of time kids spend on digital screens is increasing, thus causing an array of new eye problems to arise. Besides the dangers of blue light exposure, dry eyes and eye irritation are becoming more prevalent among our children. 

Why?

When kids are stare at a screen, their blink rate decreases dramatically. This results in less lubrication for the eye surface and leads to dry eyes. When the eyes are dry, they hurt and become red. This, then, can induce eye rubbing, which only deepens the irritation. Worse yet, if left untreated, kids’ dry eye symptoms can become a chronic problem for them as they grow older.

Moreover, as much as we want to limit the amount of time our children spend on a digital device, it is inevitable that they will be on them for the rest of their lives. Luckily, there are a few things that can help reduce symptoms and make children more comfortable while on screen time.

How to help ease dry eyes:

• Take frequent breaks. Have your child take a break from the screen every 20 minutes.  Setting a timer is a great reminder for your child to stop what they are doing, look away from the screen, and get some extra blinks in. Encouraging them to take a small walk is an even better way to break up the screen time cycle.
• Use Eye Boogies spray.  To help with dry eye symptoms and irritation, have your child use one pump on closed eyes every hour while on the screen. Because the product is non-toxic and sting-free, there is no wipe necessary. Benefits of use include: 
• Reduced redness around eyelids
• Less stickiness of the eyes
• Better overall comfort
• Use preservative-free artificial tears. To keep the eyes lubricated, using one drop per hour during screen time is suggested.

*Always consult your child’s pediatrician before use of eye products.

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