Relationship between Smartphone Use and Dry Eye Symptoms in Children

Abstract

Purpose: To study the relationship between smartphone use and dry eye disease (DED) in pediatric age group. Materials & methods: A prospective, quasi-experimental study of 78 children diagnosed with DED (as per International Dry Eye Workshop guidelines) was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Odisha over the duration of 9 months from July 2016 - March 2017. Questions on time of smartphone/other visual display terminal use, continuous reading hour, outdoor activity were asked to older children and parents of younger children. Symptoms were noted and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score calculated. Ocular examination including slit lamp, inter blink interval (IBI), tear-film breakup time (TBUT) & Schirmer's test (ST) done. The patients were divided into Category A (continuous smartphone use for >/=1hr) & Category B (use for <1hr at a stretch/intermittent use). Results: Of the 78 children (43.6% rural & 56.4% urban) 88.4% belonged to Category A and 11.6% to Category B. Mean IBI in Category A was 2.89s & in Category B it was 4.32s, mean TBUT was measured at 8.87 s and 9s in both the categories respectively, and a Schirmer's value of <10mm without anaesthesia in both the categories. Patients were reviewed again after discontinuing use of smartphone for 1 month. Improvement in symptoms and dry eye scores noted with the values being statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Smartphone use continuously for longer time can lead to symptoms of DED in children. With increasing smartphone use among younger population this is a cause of concern.

Keywords

• smartphone
• dry eye
• schirmer's test