As a parent, one of the many responsibilities we carry is ensuring that our children grow up healthy and strong. While we focus on their physical and emotional well-being, one aspect that often goes unnoticed is their eye health. In today’s digital age, with children spending more time on devices than ever before, paying attention to their eye care has become crucial.
At theAsianparent, we understand the importance of good eye health, especially for children in their critical developmental years. Ensuring children have access to the right lighting can play a significant role in reducing the risk of eye strain and other vision-related issues. We have collaborated with Wendy Ho from Signify Malaysia to get more insights and tips and tricks on proper eye care. Wendy has recommended innovations like the Philips EyeComfort technology to create healthier, eye-friendly environments for families.
Why Is Eye Health Important for Children?
Children’s eyes are still in the process of maturing, making them particularly vulnerable to vision problems. Poor lighting and excessive screen time can lead to digital eye strain, causing discomfort and, over time, potential damage to their developing eyes. Prolonged exposure to screens, combined with poor lighting or posture, may result in weak eye muscles and more severe vision-related issues.
As parents, it’s important to look out for signs of eye strain in children. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Frequent squinting
- Rubbing of the eyes
- Complaints of headaches
- Holding books or screens too close to their face
Regular eye check-ups, limited screen time, and access to proper lighting are crucial steps parents can take to protect their children’s eye health.
EyeComfort Technology: A Game Changer for Eye Health
Traditional lighting solutions often contribute to eye strain through factors like flicker, glare, and poor colour rendering. The Philips EyeComfort technology addresses these issues head-on. Unlike conventional lights, EyeComfort technology is specifically designed to reduce eye strain by offering flicker-free, glare-reducing, and uniformly distributed light.
Our EyeComfort-certified LED lights meet stringent standards, including criteria like photobiological safety, dimmability, and stroboscopic effects. This means that our lighting offers a softer and more stable light, which is easier on the eyes, particularly for children. Whether they’re reading, studying, or using devices, this type of lighting helps reduce the risk of eye fatigue and discomfort.
For parents, this is particularly beneficial, as creating a healthy environment for children means going beyond managing screen time—it means ensuring the lighting they are exposed to is safe for their developing eyes.
Practical Tips for Creating an Eye-Friendly Environment
As parents, we can take several steps at home to ensure a more comfortable visual environment for our children:
- Invest in Quality Lighting: Use lighting that minimises flicker, reduces glare, and offers consistent brightness, such as Philips EyeComfort lighting. This creates a more eye-friendly environment, particularly during activities like reading or using screens for long periods.
- Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: Encourage your child to take a 20-second break after every 20 minutes of screen time, looking at something 20 feet away (roughly 6 meters). This simple practice can reduce digital eye strain significantly.
- Set Up Proper Desk Ergonomics: Ensure your child’s desk and chair are at the right height, so they’re not straining to read or look at screens. Position screens at eye level, about an arm’s length away, to further reduce eye strain.
Incorporating EyeComfort Technology in Schools
Lighting isn’t just important at home—teachers can enhance the learning experience by incorporating EyeComfort lighting in classrooms. Schools can benefit from flicker-free, consistent LED lighting, reducing the risk of eye strain during long hours of studying. Teachers can also use task lights for activities like reading corners and whiteboard work, ensuring the light is evenly distributed and comfortable for students.
Dimmable lights can further create the right environment for different classroom activities, allowing teachers to adjust brightness levels to suit the needs of students, helping to maintain focus while protecting their vision.
Breaking the Stigma Surrounding Eye Care and Glasses
One key role parents can play is breaking the stigma around wearing glasses. In today’s world, with children exposed to screens at an early age, many may require blue light-filtering glasses to protect their eyes. These glasses help reduce eye strain from screens and protect against blue light, which can disrupt sleep patterns and cause long-term damage.
By educating children on the importance of eye care and encouraging the use of blue light glasses when necessary, parents can create a proactive attitude toward eye health. Children need to understand that wearing glasses is a positive step toward protecting their vision.
Parents can also emphasise other aspects of eye health, such as a nutritious diet rich in eye-supporting nutrients like vitamin A, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Combining good nutrition with proper lighting and regular eye check-ups sets a strong foundation for lifelong eye health.
What Signs Should Parents Look Out for?
Several warning signs may indicate your child is experiencing vision problems:
- Squinting or tilting their head to see better
- Holding books or devices too close to their eyes
- Complaints of headaches or eye discomfort
- Difficulty focusing in class or loss of interest in activities that require close-up vision
If you notice any of these signs, it’s essential to schedule an eye check-up as soon as possible to address any potential issues early.
Creating Healthier Homes and Classrooms
While the benefits of Philips EyeComfort technology are clear, its impact goes beyond individual households. Through our initiatives at Signify Malaysia, we’ve collaborated with healthcare institutions, including Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, to raise awareness about the importance of good lighting for eye health. Our mission extends to schools and communities, helping improve eye comfort in classrooms and homes across Malaysia.
Lighting plays a significant role in creating healthier environments, and with the right solutions, we can significantly reduce the risk of eye strain, particularly for children who are still growing and developing their vision.