February 25, 2002 For Immediate Release

For Information Contact Ellen Yu or Laura Calverley Andover Communications 201-947-4133

Direct Link: Computer Use and Visual Problems in Children
Results of University of California Berkeley School of Optometry Study

(Beaverton, OREGON) As many as 25% to 30% of the some 37 million children in the U.S. who use computers at home or in school are causing undue stress on their visual system and may need computer eyewear.

This is among the initial findings revealed in a landmark study conducted at the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry by Dr. Pia Hoenig, Chief, Binocular Vision Clinic. The study results will be released at the Youth Summit, KIDS ZONE, Vision Expo East in New York City on Saturday, March 16 (noon to 1:00 p.m.).

The study also shows a strong correlation between children who work many hours at a computer and premature myopia (nearsightedness). While the evidence is not conclusive, the significance of the study results warrants further research in the area.

"It's been well-documented that over 70% of computer-using adults suffer from a condition known as Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS, which is caused by staring at computer images, or pixels, for hours at a time," said Dr. Hoenig. "We know now that CVS also affects children, many of whom have used computers since before they could walk."

According to Dr. Hoenig, the study revealed the following relationship between the use of computers and children:

25-30% of children that work at a computer—either at home or in school—are in need of immediate eye care to assess and remediate their computer vision. Specific computer eyewear and attention to work station are effective and may be necessary interventions. The more a child works at a computer, the earlier the child is likely to develop near vision problems. The PRIO Vision Tester, which simulates the way the patient sees the images on an actual computer screen, has been found to provide additional information to the eye doctor that traditional diagnostic methods do not.

Background: Children and Computer Vision Problems
According to a recent Roper Starch Survey, the average American child today spends one to three hours per day on the computer doing homework, talking online with friends and playing games. Parents encourage children as young as two or three years old to use the computer.

Dr. Hoenig is among a growing number of pediatric eye specialists who believe that heavy computer use among children puts them at risk of early myopia.

"Sitting for hours in front of a computer makes for an unusual perspective for the eye because the computer forces it to focus and strain a lot more than any other task," said Dr. Hoenig. "In actuality, we're asking our children to sit close to these screens all day and stare at cathode ray tubes."

Some unique aspects of how children use computers may make them more susceptible than adults to the development of CVS. According to the American Optometric Association, the impact of computer use on children's vision involves the following factors:

Children often have a limited degree of self-awareness. Children may perform a task on the computer for hours with few breaks. This prolonged activity with few breaks can cause eye focusing and eye strain problems. Children are very adaptable. They are likely to ignore eye and visual problems that would be addressed by adults. Children are smaller than adults are. Since computer workstations are often arranged for adult use, this can change the viewing angle for children - computer users should view the screen slightly downward at a 15-degree angle. Furthermore, as a result of difficulty reaching the keyboard or placing their feet on the floor, a child may experience neck, shoulder and/or back pain.

"This study is in no way suggesting that children should avoid computers," said Dr. Hoenig. "Rather, it's intended to make parents and educators aware of the fact that computer use should be monitored and that indications of visual problems should be referred to an eye care professional for assessment. The study also suggests that more research needs to done in the area of CVS and children."

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