VOA慢速英语:How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Children?

Children can spend hours a day looking at computer screens and other digital devices. Some eye care professionals say all that screen time has led to an increase in what they call computer vision syndrome.
儿童每天会盯着电脑屏幕或其他数码设备几个小时的时间。一些眼保健专家称，在屏幕前待如此长的时间会导致越来越多的电脑视力综合症。

Nathan Bonilla-Warford is an optometrist in Tampa, Florida, with VSP, Vision Service Plan, a big insurance provider. He says he has seen an increase in problems in children.
Nathan Bonilla-Warford是美国佛罗里达州坦帕的一名验光师，就职于VSP，这是一家大型保险公司。他说他看到儿童的视力问题越来越严重。

NATHAN BONILLA-WARFORD: “I see a lot more children who are coming into the office either because their parents have noticed that they have headaches or red or watery eyes or discomfort, or because their prescription, their near-sightedness, appears to be increasing at a fast rate and they're worried.”
Nathan Bonilla-Warford：“我看到越来越多的儿童来到办公室，因为他们的父母发现他们头痛或红眼或眼睛流泪或不舒服，或者是由于他们自己的判断，近视越来越严重，导致他们自己非常担心。”

Dr. Bonilla-Warford says part of the problem is that children may be more likely than adults to ignore early warning signs.
Bonilla-Warford医生称，部分原因是由于儿童可能比成人更容易忽视视力早期预警信号。

NATHAN BONILLA-WARFORD: “Even if their eyes start to feel uncomfortable or they start to get a headache, they’re less likely to tell their parents, because they don’t want to have the game or the computer or whatever taken away.”
Nathan Bonilla-Warford：“即使他们的眼睛开始感到不适，或者他们开始头痛，他们也不太可能告诉他们的父母，因为不想自己的游戏机或电脑或其他设备被父母没收。”

He says another part of the problem is that people blink less often when they use digital devices.
他表示，另一部分原因是由于当人们使用数码设备时眨眼次数会减少。

NATHAN BONILLA-WARFORD: “The average person who uses a computer or an electronic device blinks about a third as much as we normally do in everyday life. And so that can result in the front part of the eye drying and not staying moist and protected like normal.”
Nathan Bonilla-Warford：“普通人使用电脑或其它电子设备时眨眼的次数是日常生活中正常眨眼次数的三分之一。所以，这会导致眼睛的眼部干燥，不够湿润，不能像平常一样受到保护。”

Eye doctors offer suggestions like following what is known as the 20/20/20 rule.
眼科医生通常会提供一些建议，例如以下的20/20/20规则。

NATHAN BONILLA-WARFORD: “Every twenty minutes, look away twenty feet or more for at least twenty seconds from whatever device you’re using.”
Nathan Bonilla-Warford：“每20分钟眼睛离开电子设备，向20英尺以外的地方远眺20秒钟。”

Twenty feet -- that's six meters.
20英尺也就是6米。

Other suggestions include putting more distance between you and the device and using good lighting. Of course, another way to avoid eye strain is to spend less time looking at screens. Many experts say children should spend no more than two hours a day using digital devices -- with no screen time for children under two.
其它建议包括眼睛离数码设备更远一些，光线要良好。当然，另一种避免眼睛疲劳的方式是减少盯着屏幕的时间。很多专家表示，儿童每天使用数码设备的时间不能超过2小时--两岁以下儿童不能接触数码设备。

But not all eye doctors have noticed an increase in problems in children. Dr. David Hunter says he has not seen an increase in his practice as a pediatric ophthalmologist at Children’s Hospital Boston. He also serves as a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
但是并不是所有眼科医生都注意到儿童视力问题的增加。David Hunter医生表示，在波士顿儿童医院，他作为儿科眼科医生并没有观察到儿童视力问题的增加。他还担任美国眼科学会的发言人。

Dr. Hunter thinks calling it a syndrome, as in computer vision syndrome, is a little much. He says the real problem is simple.
David Hunter医生认为称其为电脑视力综合症有点夸张。他表示真正的原因很简单。

DAVID HUNTER: "Spending too much time in one place, focusing on one thing, not looking away from their work, etc."
David Hunter：“真正的问题就是在同一个地方，视力集中在一个地方太长时间，没有抬起头看其他地方。”

And while this might be tiring to the eyes, he says, it will not cause permanent damage.
他说，尽管这可能导致眼睛疲劳，但这不会造成永久性损伤。

DAVID HUNTER: “While it is possible to develop fatigue looking at various screens for a long period of time, there’s certainly no evidence that it actually causes any damage to the eyes.”
David Hunter：“虽然长时间盯着各种不同的显示屏可能会造成疲劳，但是没有证据表明会对眼睛造成损害。”