While generations of parents have had to worry about their kids sitting too close to the TV, being a parent in 2026 demands a whole new level of screen time decisions. What age is it appropriate to introduce children to screens? How much screen time is safe? How can you limit their screen time while still ensuring they’re tech-savvy enough to keep up with their peers?
According to a survey conducted by Common Sense Media, children ages five to eight spend an average of 3 hours and 38 minutes each day using various screens, including TV, phones and tablets. The same survey found that kids ages eight to 12 spend an average of five-and-a-half hours using screens each day.
Whether you have a young child or an older one in middle or high school, it’s important to understand how screen time can impact their health, including their eyesight. There’s one mistake in particular that ophthalmologists wish parents would get their kids to stop making because it impacts their eye health both now and in the future.
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The Screen Time Mistakes Eye Doctors Wish Parents Would Stop Their Kids From Doing
Parade talked to three ophthalmologists and all three shared that one common habit that can negatively impact eye health is looking at a screen too closely. It’s a problem they see with both adults and kids. Yep, it turns out that the whole “sitting too close to the TV” problem is legit—and it’s even more concerning now that all our faces are inches away from a computer or phone for a significant chunk of the day.
Dr. Daniel Brocks, MD, an ophthalmologist and the chief medical officer at BostonSight, says that having a habit of staring at screens too closely could lead to nearsightedness. “The more near-screen work and close-screen work we do can greatly impact how kids’ eyes develop,” he tells Parade.
Dr. Brocks points to scientific studies showing that the more outdoor time children get, the less likely they are to have high levels of nearsightedness.
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“This is probably related to spending more time outside focusing at objects in the distance and moving regularly between near and distance targets, rather than staying inside staring at one screen close up,” he says.
Dr. Benjamin Lin, MD, an ophthalmologist at Texas Retina Associates and a volunteer assistant professor at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, adds to this, explaining that research suggests that the more time spent looking at objects close to your face (like screens or books) plays a role in the development of nearsightedness.
“A large recent meta-analysis showed a dose-dependent response with screen time starting around one hour per day and leveling off around four hours. The research suggests that under one hour of screen time a day had minimal effect on [nearsightedness] development, and that for every hour above that there is a roughly 21% increase,” Dr. Lin says.
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Besides increasing the risk for nearsightedness, Dr. Jorge Agi, MD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Florida and chief of ophthalmology at Tampa General Hospital, says that looking at a screen very closely for long periods can cause eye strain, headaches, blurred vision and dry or irritated eyes.
“Children also tend to blink less when concentrating on a screen, which can contribute to dryness,” Dr. Agi says, though he adds that screens themselves do not appear to directly “damage” the eyes.
Dr. Brocks agrees, explaining that blinking is needed to relubricate the eyes. “The incidence of dry eye in children has been steadily increasing and has become a true issue. Most likely this is caused predominantly by excessive screen time, though air quality and other factors in our environment, diet and life can contribute,” he explains.
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How Close Is Too Close?
It’s clear that it’s important to keep some distance between your eyes and screens (and to encourage this habit in your kids), but how close is considered too close? According to Dr. Agi, for a computer or larger screen, a good practical rule is to keep it approximately an arm’s length away—around 25 inches.
When it comes to phones and tablets, Dr. Agi says that children should avoid holding them just a few inches from their face. “Research on [nearsightedness] has found an association with near work performed at distances of less than about 20 centimeters, or about 8 inches,” he tells Parade.
If you notice that your child is naturally holding a phone or tablet really close to their face, Dr. Agi says that this could be a sign of an uncorrected vision problem rather than simply a bad habit.
Other Ways To Protect Your Kids’ Eyesight While They’re Using Screens
In addition to making sure your child maintains a healthy distance between their eyes and screens, there are other ways to support their eyesight in this day and age when screens are a necessity.
All three ophthalmologists say that it’s important for parents to ensure their kids aren’t looking at a screen for a long time, uninterrupted.
“I would recommend limiting screen time at home as much as possible, especially if screens are being increasingly used in schools to help with education. When screens are used, I recommend following the 20/20/20 rule to reduce eye strain: If doing near-work or using screens, look up every 20 minutes at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds,” Dr. Lin explains.
Dr. Brocks also recommends that parents make sure their kids are spending time outside, away from screens. As the aforementioned scientific research showed, spending time outside reduces the risk of nearsightedness.
“There are so many studies that suggest that excess screen time potentially causes slower development and can greatly influence social behavior. For the eyes, the intervention needed is clear: Reduce screen time to lower the risk of dry eye, headaches and sight-threatening eye disease in the future,” Dr. Brocks adds.
Last but certainly not least, Dr. Lin emphasizes the importance of yearly eye exams, even if a child doesn’t have any visual complaints. “Often, children can develop nearsightedness or farsightedness very gradually without realizing it. A yearly eye exam helps to catch that early and helps screen for other serious eye pathology,” he says.
Screens aren’t inherently bad. They enrich our lives in many ways. But adults and kids can both benefit from using them safely. If you have any more questions about screen time and children’s health, consult guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Sources
2025 The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to Eight. Common Sense Media. Dr. Daniel Brocks, MD, ophthalmologist and the chief medical officer at BostonSight. French, A., Ashby, R., Karouta, C., et al. (2026). Time outdoors and the prevention of myopia: School-age implementation works. Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology. 16(2):181-193. Dr. Benjamin Lin, MD, ophthalmologist at Texas Retina Associates and a volunteer assistant professor at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Ha, A., Jeong Lee, Y., Lee, M., et al. (2025). Digital Screen Time and Myopia: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis. JAMA Open Network. 8(2):e2460026. Dr. Jorge Agi, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Florida and chief of ophthalmology at Tampa General Hospital. Min Tang, S., Juan Zhang, X., Meng Wang, Y., et al. (2022). Effect of Myopic Undercorrection on Habitual Reading Distance in School Children: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. Ophthalmology and Therapy. 12(2):925-938. 12(2):925-938. Screen Time Guidelines. American Academy of Pediatrics.Hence then, the article about ophthalmologists are begging parents to get their kids to stop making this screen time mistake was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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