This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Smartphone use, urban living possible risk factors for DED
Longer daily smartphone use may be a risk factor for dry eye disease in children, according to a Korean cohort study published in BMC Ophthalmology.
Researchers enrolled 916 children and performed an ocular exam including slit lamp exam and tear break-up time. A questionnaire was also administered to children and their families consisting of video display terminal use, outdoor activity, learning and modified ocular surface disease index score.
Children were divided into groups: dry eye disease (DED) vs. control, urban vs. rural, younger (first to third grade) vs. older (fourth to sixth grade).
A total of 6.6% of children fit the DED group, and 8.3% of children in the urban group were diagnosed with DED compared to only 2.8% in the rural group.
The rate of smartphone use was 61.3% in the urban group and 51% in the rural group, according to researchers.
A total of 9.1% of older children were diagnosed with DED compared to 4% in the younger-grade group.
Smartphone usage was 65.1% in older-grade children and 50.9% in younger-grade children.
The mean daily duration of smartphone use was 3.18 hours in the DED group compared with 0.62 hours in the control group.
The mean daily duration of outdoor activities was shorter in the DED group.
Researchers found DED prevalence higher in females, but with no statistical significance.
After cessation of smartphone usage for 4 weeks, both subjective symptoms and objective signs had improved in the DED group, they reported.
Researchers recommend close observation and caution with older children in urban areas using smartphones. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.