Is it possible for children to watch a movie in 3D: myths about children’s vision, an ophthalmologist’s comment

Ophthalmologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, founder of the Yasny Vzor network of clinics.

Myth: gadgets cause vision loss.

Fact: vision deteriorates not because of the smartphones themselves, but because of their improper use.

Correct use means limiting the time spent with a tablet, smartphone, or in front of a TV. The fact is that when we look at the screen, we blink less often. Because of this, the mucous membrane dries up, the eyes get very tired, and this can affect visual acuity. So be sure to make sure the kids take breaks. In addition, sitting in front of the TV for a long time is generally not useful, and vision can deteriorate from a sedentary lifestyle.

It is also harmful for vision to watch video on a screen that is not fixed. When watching a video while moving, the eyes tense, constantly focus again and quickly get tired. So it is advisable not to let your child watch cartoons on the tablet in the car.

Myth: strabismus is not a disease, but a cosmetic defect.

Fact: strabismus is a disease due to which vision falls and the perception of space is impaired.

In Russia, strabismus is diagnosed in 10 percent of newborns. In 85 percent of cases, complete rehabilitation requires surgery, and after surgery, treatment that will restore the joint work of the eyes. For example, your child may need to wear prescription glasses for a while.

Myth: 3D movies are dangerous to children’s eyesight.

Fact: such films are not recommended only for children with neurological diseases, epilepsy, high intracranial pressure.

Such children may experience fatigue, headache, nausea, and dizziness from a three-dimensional picture. And children with strabismus and optical impairments do not see a 3D picture at all. If the child is completely healthy, then infrequent viewing of films in 3D format will not harm him.

Myth: if you wear glasses all the time, your eyes will become “addicted” to them, and your vision will continue to fall

Fact: wearing glasses does not impair vision, but, on the contrary, is one of the ways to correct it.

Refractive errors (nearsightedness, hyperopia, or astigmatism) change as children get older. Many factors can be the cause, but most often these changes are caused by genetics, vision can deteriorate even with treatment. But the glasses have nothing to do with it.

Myth: A child will outgrow vision problems.

Fact: without treatment, the problems only get worse over the years.

Untreated hyperopia or strabismus can be complicated by amblyopia – the so-called lazy eye, when a child who sees better with one eye uses it, and in the second, unloaded, vision decreases even more.

If the strabismus lasts more than 2–3 years, vision decreases and in some cases may drop to 1–2 percent: the child sees only objects brought to the very face. But if this problem is treated in a timely, correct and comprehensive manner, in 98 percent of cases, a child with strabismus can be fully rehabilitated.

In general, there is no need to wait, contact an ophthalmologist as soon as you notice a problem. The child’s visual system is formed up to 3-4 years old, and it is before this age that treatment should be started.

Myth: a mother will always notice vision problems; it is not necessary to take the child to the doctor for an examination.

Fact: many problems can only be noticed by a doctor.

Yes, squint is immediately noticeable. But if a child sees poorly from birth, he cannot complain, because he simply does not know what it is like to see well. Therefore, it is important to regularly undergo a high-quality examination by a pediatric ophthalmologist. A competent specialist will determine congenital myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism even in a six-month-old child. It is at this age that you can put on your first glasses.

Myth: children shouldn’t get laser correction.

Fact: children can carry out laser surgery from the age of ten.

Laser correction for children is carried out for complex eye pathologies – strabismus, amblyopia, anisometropia or opacities of the anterior layers of the cornea. In these cases, laser correction is often the only effective treatment. In the Yasny Vzor clinic, this procedure was first performed on a child 19 years ago, and since then, many children have been relieved of glasses and contact lenses with its help.

With farsightedness and astigmatism, refractive surgery can be performed as early as 9-10 years old: by this time the eye structures are fully formed. In addition, it is recommended to do the procedure for children with anisometropia (a large difference between the optical power of the eyes) and if the child cannot tolerate glasses or contact lenses.

Consultation with an ophthalmologist is required if the child:

• tilts his head to one side or turns his head to see something;

• covers one eye;

• blinks often, squints;

• hits everything, drops objects, and it seems to you that the child’s coordination is impaired;

• holds a book or other object too close to the eyes, rubs them, while reading, leads his finger along the line, cannot read for a long time;

• complains of headaches, eye strain, with visual stress, he is worried about nausea, dizziness, motion sickness.