Children's eyesight and computer use

I am very concerned about the development of my children's eyesight. Since upper elementary school and middle school their myopia (near-sightedness, i.e. blurry distance vision) has gotten much worse. Apparently we are just part of a trend (kids in Asian countries with strong focus on studying are the worst). However, long term risks for these early vision problems can be severe and are much higher than for people with perfect vision.

The causes of my children's vision problems are quite clear - too much near-focus activities, including reading and, most of all, computer use. But how can we avoid this? Just FYI, we are very outdoorsy people, my children do not have smart phones or are allowed to use the computer for anything other than school work. They are big readers, though. 

I would really like to limit their computer use. By the time my children come home from school (middle and high school), they have had at least two hours of computer use. Homework is now almost exclusively on the computer. Recommendations from experts in the field are "no more than 1hr of computer use for middle schoolers". How can we do that? 

I have looked into alternative views on vision problems. While my children wear glasses supporting their distance vision deficit, there are those who say this will only worsen the problem over time. Instead, they should wear glasses while reading and during other close-up work to keep their eye muscles from locking into that position. Has anyone tried this? We are also doing therapeutic eye exercises. Does anybody have any other insights?

I have been told by my opthamologist that children with myopia will often have an increase in their prescription as they grow and it is not related to close work.  The vision should stabilize as they get older.  This has been my experience with my son.  Do one or both parents have myopia?  It is genetic.

FullMoon said:

I am very concerned about the development of my children's eyesight. Since upper elementary school and middle school their myopia (near-sightedness, i.e. blurry distance vision) has gotten much worse. Apparently we are just part of a trend (kids in Asian countries with strong focus on studying are the worst). However, long term risks for these early vision problems can be severe and are much higher than for people with perfect vision.

The causes of my children's vision problems are quite clear - too much near-focus activities, including reading and, most of all, computer use. But how can we avoid this? Just FYI, we are very outdoorsy people, my children do not have smart phones or are allowed to use the computer for anything other than school work. They are big readers, though. 

I would really like to limit their computer use. By the time my children come home from school (middle and high school), they have had at least two hours of computer use. Homework is now almost exclusively on the computer. Recommendations from experts in the field are "no more than 1hr of computer use for middle schoolers". How can we do that? 

I have looked into alternative views on vision problems. While my children wear glasses supporting their distance vision deficit, there are those who say this will only worsen the problem over time. Instead, they should wear glasses while reading and during other close-up work to keep their eye muscles from locking into that position. Has anyone tried this? We are also doing therapeutic eye exercises. Does anybody have any other insights?

http://www.m.webmd.com/eye-health/myopia-nearsightedness-children

I read in the past (so long ago I don't remember where) that it's not so much the amount of close work, as the lack of time outside in daylight, especially during winter. This has definitely played out in our family, as my almost 15 year old who has skied 6 days a week every winter since the start of middle school has the best eyesight. Could be chance/genetics, but with 2 near-sighted parents, it's very unusual. The 12 year old has just started squinting at everything, so needs an eye doctor visit asap!

Speaking for myself as someone who has been nearsighted since early elementary school, my vision stabilized around the start of puberty(5-6th grade for me) at 20/90 and has stayed stable since.  This despite my studying for and having a career in  computer intensive fields and being a voracious gamer and reader(I also like swimming, cycling, and hiking for outdoor balance)

FullMoon said:

I would really like to limit their computer use. By the time my children come home from school (middle and high school), they have had at least two hours of computer use. Homework is now almost exclusively on the computer. Recommendations from experts in the field are "no more than 1hr of computer use for middle schoolers". How can we do that? 

It doesn't matter if the homework is done on a computer or with pen and paper, close up work is close up work.

mod said:

I have been told by my opthamologist that children with myopia will often have an increase in their prescription as they grow and it is not related to close work.  The vision should stabilize as they get older.  This has been my experience with my son.  Do one or both parents have myopia?  It is genetic.

There are two causes for myopia, an elongated eyeball and the inability for the lens to adjust its focus properly.  Many people have both.  An elongated eyeball is obviously genetic and close up work has no bearing on it.  The other cause is part genetic and part environmental.  If you don't have a genetic leaning towards myopia then all the reading in the world won't cause it.  However, if you do have the genetic component then prolonged close up work can and will cause it due to atrophy in the lens, this has been known for years.  The Inuit went from having almost no myopia to having rates at about 50% in just two generations.  The difference between the grandparents and the grandchildren was the amount of close up book work.

Komarovsky said:

Speaking for myself as someone who has been nearsighted since early elementary school, my vision stabilized around the start of puberty(5-6th grade for me) at 20/90 and has stayed stable since.  This despite my studying for and having a career in  computer intensive fields and being a voracious gamer and reader(I also like swimming, cycling, and hiking for outdoor balance)

I'm sorry, but 20/90 is mild nearsightedness.  Your Rx is probably around -2.00 or so.  As someone with severe myopia (-8.75) my prescription STILL hasn't "stabilized" even though I am 43 years old.  And to make matters worse even though my myopia still creeps bit by bit every few years, I am now starting to lose the ability to focus up close due to middle age loss of near vision.  

FullMoon said:

 We are also doing therapeutic eye exercises. Does anybody have any other insights?

I've heard that works except that 99.9 percent of people will soon forget and stop doing the exercises.  Even stopping every few minutes during reading to focus on objects across the room is supposed to help, but again when one gets engrossed in their work they will of course forget to stop to "stretch" their eyes.

You are right to be concerned.  People with severe myopia are at a much greater risk for issues such as detached retina.  Although they won't help with the vision, my eye doctor highly recommended PreserVision AREDS vitamins to help keep some of the other eye issues at bay.  They were formulated based on a study of vision.