{"id":374,"date":"2014-09-29T21:51:09","date_gmt":"2014-09-29T21:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.smartdesks.com\/?p=374"},"modified":"2021-07-14T12:39:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-14T12:39:52","slug":"its-called-macbook-pro-retina-but-retina-or-not-it-could-be-hurting-your-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartdesks.com\/knowledge-center\/its-called-macbook-pro-retina-but-retina-or-not-it-could-be-hurting-your-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s called Macbook Pro Retina, but \u201cRetina\u201d or not, it could be hurting your eyes"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today\u2019s world, technology is everywhere. One might even say that it runs our lives. From our computers, smart phones, tablets and gadgets, most people are around technology every waking moment. And, for children, classrooms are becoming outfitted with greater amounts of technology to support teaching curriculum and to serve as a new learning style. It is estimated that 40% of teachers use computers for instruction, and at least one computer is in 97% of all American classrooms.
\nIn honor of Children\u2019s Eye Health and Safety month, we wondered how much technology time children should have both in and out of the classroom.
\nDon\u2019t Start too Young<\/strong>
\nParents should slowly introduce their children to technology. Since 2009, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity (2010) have recommended waiting until the child is at least preschool age, or over the age of two years old, to introduce the child to technology.
\nAfter the age of two years old, it is recommended that children have no more than one to two hours of total screen time per day, and this includes all the way up to teenagers. A two hour limit is unrealistic for teenagers, who require screen time for homework tasks, but younger children should prevent straining their eyes for as long as possible.
\nFor youngest technology users (under five years), experts believe that they are not being given a chance to explore the world around them. This could result in a skewed reality and inability to differentiate between technology and the real world. For young children, the emphasis in research has been less about the health and safety risks, although those should be assessed, and more about the development of learning about the world around them.
\nDigital Eye Strain<\/strong>
\nAccording to a survey by the American Optometric Association<\/a>, almost 1\/3 of children use technology for a full hour before taking a visual break. Optometrists are concerned that blue light rays emitted from electronic devices could affect and age the eyes. When technology is used for extended periods of time, the individual could experience what is called Computer Vision Syndrome<\/a> (CVS).
\nThe American Optometric Association defines CVS as eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer use. The most common symptoms of CVS include:<\/p>\n