Myopia or nearsightedness causes distant objects to appear blurry while nearby objects appear clear. This condition occurs when light rays are bent the wrong way due to the shape of the eye.

A recent study published in BMC Public Health reviewed and analyzed the association between screen time and myopia in children and adolescents.

Researchers at Soochow University in China evaluated various studies to determine how screen exposure affects the risk of developing myopia.

Key findings of the study

scope of the study: The researchers reviewed 19 studies with 102,360 participants. They used data from major health databases to understand the relationship between screen time and myopia.

Screen time impact: Children who spent more screen time had a higher risk of developing myopia. Children who had more screen time were more likely to be nearsighted than those with less screen time.

Device-specific findings: The study found that computer use and TV viewing were associated with a higher risk of nearsightedness, but smartphone use did not show a clear link.

Geographical Diversity: The increase in risk was particularly notable in studies conducted in East and South Asia and in research conducted after 2008.

Quality and Bias: Most of the studies were of good quality, but some had problems such as small sample sizes and not taking into account all possible factors. Despite these problems, overall the results were strong.

The study highlights the potential risks of prolonged screen time for children’s eye health and suggests that limiting screen time may help reduce the risk of nearsightedness (myopia).