Help protect your child’s vision by limiting their screen time.

New data from the Canadian Ophthalmological Society says concern for how screen time is impacting children’s vision is on the rise, increasing from 54 per cent in 2024 to 82 per cent this year.

Dr. Stephanie Dotchin, a pediatric ophthalmologist has more on the cumulative effects of kids’ use of phones, tablets, computers and televisions.

“So if you look in some of the studies, they suggest that we are seeing more near sightedness overall and they estimate that by 2050, two thirds of the Canadian population for children under the age of 18 will be nearsighted or myopic.”  

Dotchin recommends the 20-20-20 rule for any time we are using screens at our jobs or doing school work.

It means that for every 20 minutes of screen time, you should look away for 20 seconds at an object that’s 20 feet away.  This will help relieve strain on your eyes.

For more on the C-O-S survey results, catch Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.