RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—Although many parents worry about how much time their teenagers spend glued to their smartphones, tablets and other digital devices, most are unaware of how it affects their children’s vision and overall health.

Now, a new survey by VSP Vision Care finds that by the time the average American child reaches age 17, their eyes will have spent the equivalent of nearly six years looking at digital devices. While the survey shows that parents are concerned with increasing screen time, it found that nearly 60 percent have little to no awareness of blue light—the high-energy light emitted from digital devices—and its impact on vision.

Among the survey’s key findings:

• Parents are unaware of blue light. More than half of parents (58 percent) are either only slightly or not at all aware of blue light and its potentially harmful impacts on vision and overall health. Only 10 percent of parents reported that they had taken steps to reduce their family’s blue light exposure.

• All in the family: Parents and kids alike are attached to tech. Nearly two-thirds of parents think their family spends too much time on digital devices and nearly half of parents (44 percent) went as far as to say their kids are addicted to digital devices. Kids aren’t the only heavy devices users of course: parents reported spending almost half their waking hours looking at screens (about 61 hours per week).

• Eye health is not parents’ top screen time concern. Only 13 percent of parents ranked their family’s vision as the top concern when asked what concerns them most about digital device usage.

• Parents set screen time limits, but find it difficult to enforce. Almost half (49 percent) of parents currently have or used to have limitations on children’s daily device usage but said those rules aren’t enforced. However, it remains a goal for families around the country as nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of parents think it’s important to unplug from technology.

“Whether we’re at home, in a classroom, or at the office, our eyes are exposed to more and more blue light in today’s device-driven world,” said VSP optometrist Gary Morgan, OD. “Technology continues to change the way we live and allows us to be more efficient and connected, but even with its benefits, we must be mindful of the impact of increased blue light exposure on our eyes. While medical research continues to study the possible long-term health impacts of blue light, both parents and their children can take practical steps now to reduce their exposure, ease digital eye strain and maintain good vision.”

For more information on blue light and its impact on vision, see Vision Monday’s April 11 cover story, “Inside the Blue Boom.”

See the infographic below which summarizes the survey’s findings.