New ZEISS Study Finds Majority of Parents Worry About Impact of Screen Time on Their Children’s Eye Health, Value Protective Behaviors to Maintain Eyesight

Background & Objectives

Each August is recognized as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, coinciding with families preparing for the new school year in August and September. This observance highlights the critical role of vision in overall health and, more importantly, in children’s ability to learn and succeed academically.

A nationwide survey conducted by ZEISS with parents of children under 18 revealed levels of concern, protective behaviors, and spending habits related to maintaining long-term eye health. The results showed that 88% of parents are concerned about their child’s eye health. Early detection of vision issues was emphasized as a key factor in reducing the likelihood of serious concerns as children grow older.

Digital Eye Strain & Screen Time

In an increasingly digital-centric lifestyle, parents expressed strong concerns about the risk of digital eye strain in children:

• 82% of parents are at least “somewhat concerned” about their children experiencing digital eye strain from electronic device use.
• Concerns are especially high among parents of younger children: 95% of parents with children aged 4–9 worry about the impact of screen time on their eyes.
• In terms of daily time allocation, 54% of parents report their children spend ≥ 3 hours outdoors, while 63% say their children spend ≥ 3 hours on screens.

These figures reflect a reality where extended screen use coexists with outdoor activity, heightening concerns about vision quality, comfort, and overall eye health in both learning and recreation.

Survey Method & Participants

Parents are concerned about the impact of screen time on children’s eye health.

The survey was conducted by ZEISS with 1,000 U.S. parents of children ≤ 18 years old. Data collection was carried out via the Forsta HX platform, with the sample sourced from RepData, and executed in June 2024.

Protective Eye Health Behaviors Adopted by Parents

Most parents actively implement various practices to reduce risks to their children’s eyes:

• 76% of parents believe they play a role in enforcing eye health protection behaviors; among them, 41% encourage screen-time breaks.
• 58% of children wear glasses (including blue light glasses, prescription glasses, sunglasses/UV protection, or photochromatic lenses).
• For children wearing glasses, the most common use is while using electronics (48%), followed by outdoors (39%) and at school (37%).

In terms of awareness, 60% of parents believe children need age-appropriate glasses. Additionally, 57% are willing to spend on eye health even without immediate results.

The Gap Between Awareness and Action

Parents should pay attention to their child’s eye health from an early age.

Although awareness is reflected in high concern rates, survey data revealed a gap in action:

• 63% of parents believe children should have annual eye exams, but in reality only 47% take their children to an optometrist yearly (compared to 78% for primary care visits and 71% for dental check-ups).
• Among children with ≥ 3 hours of screen time daily, while 48% of parents are “very” or “extremely” concerned about digital eye strain, about 31% still do not get annual eye exams for their children.
• 33% of parents say that reducing digital eye strain would motivate them to buy glasses for their child.

Significance for Back-to-School Season

During August–September, as children return to school, ensuring visual comfort, eye health, and clear vision directly impacts academic performance. The survey results highlight the role of parents in monitoring screen time, encouraging proper breaks, watching for warning signs, and prioritizing regular eye exams to detect potential issues that may affect children’s learning and development.