Summer vacation is the long-awaited liberation for children.
To celebrate this hard-won freedom, many dive into a "screen marathon"—staying up late watching shows, gaming... a full relaxation mode!
But your eyes protest:
We need a break too!
01 The Silent Damage of Unnoticed Habits
When phones, tablets, and computers dominate children’s lives, a quiet "vision marathon" begins. Seemingly harmless, prolonged screen exposure silently erodes eye health.
Instant Alert: Visual Fatigue
Blue light from screens—shorter wavelength, higher energy—penetrates the cornea and lens, reaching the retina. Prolonged exposure causes dryness, stinging, and foreign body sensations. Focused screen time also reduces blinking, accelerating tear evaporation and surface dryness.
Growing Myopia Risks
Staring at screens for hours keeps eye muscles tense and fatigued, losing elasticity. This impairs distant vision focus, worsening myopia—especially critical during adolescence, a key developmental stage.
Eye Strain from Improper Posture
Lying in bed or slouching while gaming shortens the eye-screen distance, forcing excessive accommodation. This strains the eyes, accelerating fatigue.
Sleep Deprivation’s Retaliation
Late nights slow ocular blood circulation and metabolism, reducing nutrient supply and waste removal. Dark circles and puffiness emerge. Worse, sleep deprivation weakens the eyes’ self-repair ability, raising risks like myopia.
02 Eye Care Tips: Give Your Eyes a Break
1. Forceful Blinking
Prolonged screen use reduces blinking, causing tear film instability and Meibomian gland blockage. Forceful blinking clears gland openings, spreading oils to retain moisture.
How to do it: Close eyes tightly for 5 seconds, then open. Repeat 10 times, 3 sets daily.
2. Follow the "20-20-20 Rule"
Internationally recognized, this rule eases eye strain and slows myopia progression. A 2022 study by Aston University confirmed its effectiveness in reducing dryness, light sensitivity, and discomfort.
How to do it: Every 20 minutes, gaze at something 20 feet (6 meters) away for ≥20 seconds.
3. Pilot-Tested "Eye ‘Rice Character’ Exercises"
Developed by Chinese aviation vision experts, these exercises rejuvenate ciliary muscles, alleviating soreness, dryness, and myopia.
How to do it:
① Draw a "米" pattern: Look up/down 3 times, left/right 3 times, diagonals 3 times each.
② Circle eyes clockwise/counterclockwise 3 times.
③ Close eyes for 1 minute, then focus on greenery for 2–3 minutes.
Act Now!
If you’ve been overusing your eyes, use summer break for a vision screening! Early detection of myopia or issues allows timely treatment.
Remember: Summer fun shouldn’t cost your eyesight.
Master these relaxation techniques—give your hardworking eyes a well-deserved break. After all, you’ll need them to enjoy countless vistas ahead!
