MY KIDS VISION: Why the iPhone and iPad ‘Screen Distance’ setting should be enabled for children
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Key points
Children are at greater risk of developing myopia if they view books or screens closer than 25cm, and continuously without taking a break for 45 minutes or more.
Children (and adults) also tend to hold screens closer than books and print material. This increases the visual demand on the eyes' focusing system
Apple's Screen Distance setting for iPhones and iPads automatically obscures the screen when held too close, saving you the task of monitoring screen reading distance and nagging your child when screens are held too close.
How does the ‘Screen Distance’ setting work?
When ‘Screen Distance’ is enabled, the iPhone or iPad activates the TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID, which then measures the distance to the face during use. Apple informs that the camera itself is not recording during this process and is only utlizing the focusing system to measure distance.
The iPhone or iPad then displays a warning if it is moved closer than 30cm to the face it will display a warning that can only be reset by moving the device away from the face beyond 30cm.
How to enable ‘Screen Distance’
‘Screen Distance’ requires Face ID, so is only available on iPhones and iPads with Face ID. On these devices ‘Screen Time’ can be activated from the main Settings screen on the Screen Time tab.
What is the benefit in enabling ‘Screen Distance’ on my child’s iPhone or iPad?
Research has shown that when children hold books or screens too close to their eyes, and for long periods of time, this increases the risk of developing myopia, also known as short-sightedness.1 Read more about this below. It has also been shown that screen viewing reduces the rate of blinking,2 which can lead to dry, uncomfortable or red eyes. Blinking is an essential process to keep the eye surface healthy and vision as clear as possible.
The iPhone’s ‘Screen Distance’ setting aligns with the Elbow Rule, that many eye doctors and optometrists recommend to children, where a book or digital device should be held no closer than the child’s elbow-to-hand distance to avoid them being too close to the eyes.
Children (and adults) also tend to hold screens closer than books and print material. This increases the visual demand on the eyes' focussing system.3,4 Digital eye strain may be suffered by up to 50% of people who use screens, with symptoms including sore, tired, dry eyes and headaches.4
Children (and adults) also tend to hold screens closer than books and print material.
Increasing the viewing distance of time spent on a screen can benefit visual development and eye health in kids. It is also important to take regular breaks from screen time.
Learn more from our article All about screen time and close work.
How could the iPhones ‘Screen Distance’ setting protect my child against myopia?
Myopia is an eye condition which causes blurred far vision, and is also known as short-sightedness or near-sightedness.
Once myopia develops in children, it typically deteriorates every few to several months until the late teens or early 20s, causing worsening vision.5 Myopia is a significant concern to quality of life in children and teenagers, and poses a risk to long-term eye health.6
Children are at greater risk of developing myopia if they view books or screens closer than 25cm, and continuously without taking a break for 45 minutes or more.1 The new iOS Screen Distance setting can encourage kids to avoid these very close viewing distances which can be harmful to vision and eye health.