In iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, Apple has introduced new tools for improving eye health when viewing screens. Called Screen Distance, the tools are aimed at children, but can be used by anyone looking to reduce eye strain. Keep reading to learn how it works.

iOS 17 Health Feature
While it's not possible for children to stop using screens altogether in this day and age, Apple has added some new tools that parents can use to help protect their child's eye health when they use an iPhone or iPad.

Of course, no-one is too old keep their own eyes in good condition, which is why grown-ups can use the new Screen Distance tools, too. To reduce eye strain and the risk of myopia in children, Screen Distance helps you keep the ‌iPhone‌ at a recommended distance.

Apple recommends a viewing distance of 12 inches for the eyes, and will offer a position guide to help you know where to hold the device for optimal viewing without eye strain. Here’s how to enable the new feature.

  1. Open the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.
  2. Tap Screen Time.
  3. Under "Limit Usage," tap Screen Distance.
  4. Read the info screen, then Continue.
  5. Toggle the Screen Distance switch so that it's in the green ON position.
    settings

If the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ or ‌‌iPad‌‌ is too close, Apple's "Shield" will now let you (or your child) know that the display needs to be further away. Once the device is moved to the suggested distance, the shield will display a Continue button for you to resume what you were doing.

Tag: Health

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Apple Intelligence Now Available in New iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia Developer Betas

Monday July 29, 2024 10:07 am PDT by
Apple is today providing developers with the first betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, with the new software introducing an early version of the Apple Intelligence features. These new betas will be in testing alongside the current iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15 betas. Developers can choose whether to opt into the new betas with Apple Intelligence, or stay on the ...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Report: Apple Intelligence Delayed to iOS 18.1 in October

Sunday July 28, 2024 11:52 am PDT by
Apple Intelligence will miss its initial expected launch date to give Apple more time to fix bugs, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. According to individuals with knowledge about Apple's plans, the company now plans to start rolling out Apple Intelligence in software updates by October, arriving several weeks after the launch of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. This means that Apple...
T Mobile Generic Feature Pink 1

T-Mobile Sued for Breaking Lifetime Price Guarantees

Friday July 26, 2024 2:44 pm PDT by
T-Mobile customers have filed a lawsuit [PDF] against the carrier, alleging that it failed to honor a guarantee not to raise the prices of select cellular plans. The lawsuit, first spotted by Wired, claims that back in 2017, T-Mobile advertised several of its plans with a price lock, but then went on to increase prices starting in May 2024. "T-Mobile ONE customers keep their price until...