Plea to get kids eyesight checked regularly as screen time soars
There have been reports of social media app use spiking since the start of the coronavirus pandemic
Amid concerns over children's ever-increasing time spent online, we've been told it's crucial to get their eyesight checked regularly.
Reports have suggested that since lockdown and the increase in virtual learning, some youngsters are spending as much as six hours a day on things like phones, computers and other devices.
There have been reports of social media app use spiking by 130% amongst UK children since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
A Canadian study during lockdown also found that 8-year olds spent an average of more than five hours a day on screens for leisure - and that's not including screen time needed for schoolwork.
Colin Dorricott from Silverberg Opticians in Liverpool said:
"We need to know if there is any type of prescription there for it, whether that's for distance or near.
"If there is and they're not wearing it, then it's going to cause strain on their eyes which causes tiredness, sore eyes which is obviously very distracting if they're using all these screens.
"The longer they're spending on there without a proper prescription, the more likely that there's going to be some problems.
20:20:20
"There's a rule of 20:20:20 which is for every 20 minutes you use a computer or screen, you should look at something at least 20 foot away for 20 seconds and it's about giving your eyes those breaks."