Patient's question:
Already noticed the child blinking a few days ago, and then a couple of days later, it became continuous, forceful blinking. I was wondering if it might have been triggered by watching TV too much in the previous days. Over the next few days, I started limiting TV time. In the last two days, the forceful blinking has reduced significantly. But...Doctor's answer:
There are many reasons why children blink. As you described, it is often considered a reflexive blinking caused by watching TV. The fast-changing and flickering images on the TV screen can, due to the underdeveloped visual system of children, lead to hyperexcitation of the visual center, resulting in reflexive blinking. This is also a feedback defense mechanism.Experiments have confirmed that watching TV for 30-50 minutes has no significant adverse effect on children's vision. However, if they continue watching for more than 2 hours, over 60% of children may experience varying degrees of vision decline and increased visual fatigue. Although visual fatigue can be fully restored after rest, repeated exposure can cause harm to the eyes.
Advice: It is recommended to have the child see an ophthalmologist to rule out any eye conditions. Additionally, pay more attention to and educate about eye hygiene in daily life.
Lifestyle Management: You can observe under what circumstances the child frequently blinks. If there are any triggers, take measures to avoid them. The distance between the TV screen and the eyes should be 2-3 meters. The room should also be properly lit. Psychological treatment should not be overlooked. If parents scold the child, it may instead increase psychological stress, worsening the symptoms. Therefore, parents should be patient when persuading the child to watch less TV or avoid it altogether, encouraging them to:
- Not watch TV for long periods;
- Not have a poor diet;
- Engage in more outdoor activities.