Why the iPhone and iPad ‘Screen Distance’ setting should be enabled for children

• 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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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

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

Other than maybe fielding complaints from your child about the Screen Distance warnings, there are no disadvantages for ensuring a safe screen viewing distance. On the flip side we’ve just covered how maintaining a safe screen distance can reduce eye strain and dry eye symptoms, and the growing evidence that this can also be protective against myopia development and myopia progression.

Although maybe annoying at first, children are generally highly adaptable and will likely soon learn how to stop the annoying messages. The benefit to you is that their response to prevent the messages ensures they meet the safe screen distance recommendations without you needing to monitor and nag about holding the screen too close.

We all likely remember being told by a ‘grown up’ during our own childhood to move back from the screen (of the TV variety!) - perhaps Apple’s initiative will confine this old saying to the history books for the children of today.

The My Kids Vision Knowledge Centre contains age specific articles covering the latest research on myopia and how it can affect children. On this topic on screen time you can find age specific information on screen time in the following articles:

• Screen time for babies and toddlers: what is OK?
• Screen time for children: how much is OK?
• Screen time for teenagers: how can we manage it?
• Screen time in adults: how much is too much?

The following public bodies offer recommendations on screen time:

• World Health Organization
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Australian Government Department of Health