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Here’s What Ophthalmologists are Buying for Their Kids This Holiday Season

Children on digital device

Ophthalmologists have long cautioned against purchasing toys that pose a danger to children’s eyes. This year we’re adding digital devices to our usual list of BB guns, Nerf guns, and slingshots. That’s because evidence is mounting that too much screen time and not enough time outside may be behind the recent rise in nearsightedness in children. We know reducing screen time is challenging for parents. To help, Friedberg Eye Associates, PA and the American Academy of Ophthalmology released a screen-free holiday gift guide focused on healthy kids and healthy eyes. 

“As a parent, I know how hard it is to limit screen time, but several new studies conducted during the pandemic show increased time on digital devices for online learning and entertainment may be causing an increase in nearsightedness among children,” said Dianna Seldomridge, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “So, in addition to cautioning parents to avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts, we’re asking parents to consider gifts that encourage kids to step away from their screens.

So, skip the blue light-blocking glasses and buy your child something that will finally get them off their screens. Here are some ophthalmologist-approved gift ideas:

For more information about the rise in nearsightedness in children, watch the Academy’s YouTube video.

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