The pandemic has remade the way our children learn - with regular home-based learning classes which result in increased screen time and heavier usage of electronic gadgets, it’s crucial that we take the necessary precautions to take care of their (and all you hard working mums and dads) eye health!

Coding Lab has gathered 5 tips (specially curated for you and your families 👀) to help keep our eyes safe and healthy in this period of time. Check them out below!

Our student using our monitors, which emit low blue light

1. Reduce blue light at night

Prolonged exposure to blue light emitted from digital devices has been found to damage retinal cells and disrupt the body's natural sleep cycle, thus triggering eye fatigue and affecting sleep quality [1].

Did you know that Coding Lab has a specially-equipped classroom in Parkway Parade filled with monitors that emit low blue light energy? You can also do your part at home by keeping those devices away to reduce your blue light intake and getting sufficient rest in the evening!

2. Eat healthy foods

You are what you eat, and a healthy diet contributes to healthy vision. Choose foods that are rich in antioxidants such as your greens which act as a natural sunscreen for your eyes [2]! Fatty fish is also high in omega-3 fatty acids and will strengthen the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision [3].

For more healthy foods for your kids, we’ve got the best list right here – don’t worry, they’re foods that your kids will definitely not be able to resist!

Read: Food For Thought - Brain Food for Programmers

Fatty fish is abundant in omega-3

Staying hydrated is the way to go!

3. Stay hydrated

Dry eyes are one of the most common types of eye problems [4]. When you lack adequate moisture, your eyes become dry and uncomfortable. Always stay hydrated by drinking 8 glasses of water daily for optimal eye health – before you know it, you’ll be running in full steam ahead!

4. Maintain a good posture

At Coding Lab, our adjustable chairs allow our students to sit upright and avoid slouching while looking at the screen. When using the computer, sit at least 50cm away from the screen, with shoulders relaxed and eyes looking straight ahead towards the screen. Rest your back against the chair and ensure that your feet are resting flat against the floor. Make sure to follow all the rules in the infographic right here – you wouldn’t want back pain or finger strain in your old age!

Coding Lab Back to School Tips: Proper Sitting and Typing Posture — Graphic of "Proper sitting and typing posture"

5. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule

It’s important to take a 20-second eye break every 20 minutes – by focusing on an object 20 feet away (approximately 6m). This rule provided by optometrists easily reminds us to relax our eyes for short intervals throughout the day [5].

At Coding Lab, we make sure that our students get regular eye breaks during class time because we know just how important eye rest is for our students!

Read: 3 Ways to be Your Child’s Cheerleader During Their Exams!

We hope that these five simple tips will help in bettering your eye health! Especially in these turbulent times, we hope you never lose sight of what truly matters – taking care of yourself!

(Edited by Zulaikha)

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