Digital Childhood: Are Kids Today Seeing the World Differently?

Haziel Rynjah, M. Optom.

Assistant Professor, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Baridua, India

In the age of smartphones and tablets, the way children experience the world has undergone a dramatic transformation. Gone are the days of long hours spent playing outdoors, reading under the sun, or staring at clouds with unblinking eyes. Nowadays, childhood is often framed by screens, scrolling, and blue light. ⁽¹⁾ The question is, what does this digital shift mean for the eye health of children, and how does it compare to earlier generations?

A Look Back: Eyes Before the Screen Age

Children who grew up before the digital boom engaged more in outdoor play, physical activity, and natural lighting. Their visual development occurred in a dynamic environment that exercised distance vision, hand-eye coordination, and frequent eye movement. ^(1,2) Myopia (near-sightedness), digital eye strain, and dry eye were far less common among them.

Studies have shown that spending time outdoors in natural light plays a protective role in eye development and reduces the risk of myopia. ⁽³⁾ In contrast, earlier generations, with limited screen exposure, rarely showed signs of early-onset vision problems unless due to genetic or medical reasons. ^(1,3)

The Eye of Modern Child: Constantly Screened

Today, children are introduced to screens at an increasingly young age. Whether it is for online learning, games, YouTube videos, or social media, the combination of prolonged near work from screens, artificial indoor lighting, and reduced time outdoors is reshaping how young eyes develop. ^(3,4) This shift is contributing to:

Figure 1: Children Using Digital Devices

• Early-Onset Myopia: Children are becoming nearsighted at much younger ages, sometimes as early as 5 or 6. ⁽⁴⁾
• Faster Myopia Progression: Screen time and reduced outdoor exposure are accelerating the progression of myopia during school years. ⁽⁵⁾
• Increased Digital Eye Strain: Complaints of tired eyes, blurry vision, headaches, and even difficulty focusing are becoming more common, even in primary school-aged children. ⁽¹⁾
• Poor Visual Posture: Slouching or holding devices too close can contribute not only to eye strain but also to musculoskeletal issues. ⁽⁶⁾
• Reduced Visual Diversity: Children now engage less with distance vision and depth perception, potentially affecting their spatial awareness. ⁽³⁾

What Can Parents Do?

• Use the 20-20-20 Rule: To reduce eye strain, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of screen use. ⁽⁷⁾
  

  Figure 2: 20-20-20 Rule for Digital Eye Strain

• Promote Outdoor Activities: Spending a minimum of 2 hours outside daily supports healthy eye development. ⁽³⁾
• Reduce Screen Exposure: Young children, especially under age 5, benefit from minimal screen time to support healthy visual development. ⁽²⁾
• Use Blue Light Filters: On screens or with glasses, particularly in the evening. ⁽⁸⁾
• Schedule Regular Eye Exams: Detecting issues early helps prevent lasting vision problems. ⁽²⁾

Conclusion

There is no denying that the digital age offers remarkable benefits for learning, communication, and creativity. However, the transformation of childhood from open fields to glowing screens has real consequences for eye development and long-term visual health. ⁽¹⁾ The modern child sees the world differently, with their eyes physically adapting to a screen-dominated environment. To protect young eyes, we should encourage outdoor play, set screen time limits, and prioritise eye check-ups. While keeping kids connected, we must ensure their vision remains clear and strong for exploring the world beyond screens. ⁽²⁾
 

References

1. Park, J. H. (2020). Smartphone use patterns of smartphone-dependent children. Child Health Nursing Research, 26(1), 47.
2. Chidi-Egboka, N. C., Jalbert, I., Wagner, P., & Golebiowski, B. (2023). Blinking and normal ocular surface in school-aged children and the effects of age and screen time. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 107(11), 1613-1620.
3. Lanca, C., Yam, J. C., Jiang, W. J., Tham, Y. C., Hassan Emamian, M., Tan, C. S., … & Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium (AEEC). (2022). Near work, screen time, outdoor time and myopia in schoolchildren in the Sunflower Myopia AEEC Consortium. Acta ophthalmologica, 100(3), 302-311.
4. Lingham, G., Mackey, D. A., Lucas, R., & Yazar, S. (2020). How does spending time outdoors protect against myopia? A review. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 104(5), 593-599.
5. Almahmoud, O. H., Mahmmod, K. M., Mohtaseb, S. A., Totah, N. J., Nijem, D. F. A., & Hammoudeh, A. N. (2025). Assessment of digital eye strain and its associated factors among school children in Palestine. BMC ophthalmology, 25(1), 81.
6. Bagaji, S., & Rao, R. (2025). Digital fatigue in the age of screens: eye and postural strain among 18–35-year-old screen users.
7. Kumar, S., & Pandey, H. (2024). Impact of 20-20-20 Rule and Daily Reminders in Relieving Digital Eye Strain. International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research, 9(2), 339-351.
8. Leung, T. W., Li, R. W. H., & Kee, C. S. (2017). Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses: optical and clinical performances. PloS one, 12(1), e0169114.