Screen time blamed for teenage eye condition usually found in elderly
By Merryn Porter |
Teens who spend long hours in front of screens are more likely to develop an eye condition typically seen among the elderly population.
A new study has found a link between extended screen time and an increase in teens suffering dry eye disease caused by reduced blinking.
The University of Auckland study involved monitoring the blink rate of more than 450 teenagers who attended a 2019 Auckland gaming convention, who had an average weekly screen time of over 43 hours.
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The findings, published this month in the journal Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, raise concerns about an earlier onset of dry eye disease and the irreversible changes to the eye surface that can result.
Participants filled out a survey about their screen use on an iPad and their blinking was monitored.
The research showed a link between screen time and dry eye, driven by reduced blinking during screen use.
The study found while many of the participants were teenagers, they showed clinical signs and symptoms of dry eye disease typically seen in much older patients.
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The results replicated other studies and reports from doctors who have seen an increase in the number of young patients with the progressive and painful condition, which feels like sandpaper on the eyes.
The condition can negatively affect vision and quality of life, and can cause irreversible changes to the eye surface.
University of Auckland research fellow at the Department of Ophthalmology Dr Alex Mจนntz said: "People may not want to hear this right now, when we're all glued to our screens for work and school, but this may be yet more evidence of the toll from excessive screen time".
