TOPLINE:
More time spent exposed to screens is associated with a higher risk for myopia in children and adolescents; the use of computers and televisions appears to have the most significant effects on eye health.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 102,360 children and adolescents to assess the association between screen time and myopia.
- Data were collected from studies published before June 1, 2023, in three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
- Screen time was categorized by device type, including computers, televisions, and smartphones, and analyzed using random or fixed-effect models.
- The analysis included both cohort and cross-sectional studies.
TAKEAWAY:
- High exposure to screen time was significantly associated with myopia in both cross-sectional (odds ratio [OR], 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47-3.42) and cohort studies (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 2.07-2.76).
- In cohort studies, each extra hour per day spent using screens increased the risk for myopia by 7% (95% CI, 1.01-1.13).
- Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations between myopia and screen time on computers (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 4.78-14.04) and televisions (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02-2.10), whereas time spent using smartphones was not significantly associated with myopia.
IN PRACTICE:
“With the development of technology and GDP [gross domestic product], educational pressure may lead students to use screen devices such as smartphones and computers for long periods of time to learn online courses, receive additional tutoring or practice, and increase the incidence of myopia,” wrote the authors.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Zhiqiang Zong of Anhui Medical University in Hefei, China. It was published online in BMC Public Health.
LIMITATIONS:
The majority of the studies included were cross-sectional, which cannot establish causality. High heterogeneity was found among the included studies, possibly due to differences in research design, population characteristics, and exposure levels. Some studies did not adjust for important confounding factors such as outdoor activities.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported by grants from the Educational Commission of Anhui Province of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.