Okayama University research: High levels of television exposure affect visual acuity in children In a study reported in the
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers from Okayama University show that long hours in front of the television in children under 3 years of age lead to increased eyesight concerns during later years.
It is ingrained in parents to curtail the hours their children spend in front of the television. Anecdotal evidence suggests that prolonged viewing of television and use of smart gadgets during early years can adversely affect a child s eyesight and behavioral development. However, there is little scientific evidence to support such observations on the effects of excessive television exposure on children s visual acuity. Now, Professor MATSUO Toshihiko (M.D., Ph.D.) and Professor YORIFUJI Takashi (M.D., Ph.D.) from Okayama University describe how such exposure can indeed have detrimental effects on children s eyesight during later years.