There is no scientific evidence that TV emits rays that are harmful to your eyes. I know, I know, we have been led to believe that this is a huge problem, but the evidence just is not there as far as TV’s themselves being harmful.
However, if a child consistently sits close to the TV, we need to figure out why. If it is because they cannot see from far away, this is a symptom of near-sightedness and they may need glasses. This is something to keep an eye on in many other areas of life as well. Check with your child’s teacher to see if they notice a similar pattern at school. Squinting or asking to move closer to the board may indicate a need for glasses.
Furthermore, if they can see from far away, we would encourage them to not sit so close. This is because excess near work/screen time (more with fine detail activities like reading or homework), can tire your eyes out and lead to near-sightedness developing. This just tends to be more of a correlation rather than a cause and effect situation. So, when in doubt, turn the TV off and have them play outside!
If you have any questions or concerns about this, give us a call or click here to schedule an appointment. We are happy to help!