Effect of Increased Digital Screen Time (Dst) on Ocular Health in Undergraduate Medical Students

Digital media offer both benets and signicant risks to the health of individuals. Increased digital screen time (DST) has impacted physical, mental and behavioral pattern of individuals. Present study was undertaken to assess the effect of increased screen time and other associated factors on ocular health in under-graduate medical students. A self-reported, close-ended questionnaire was sent through Google forms to all the undergraduate medical students. The questionnaire assessed participants' screen exposure time, intermittent break frequency, myopia progression, symptoms and measures to overcome the symptoms. Atotal of 386 students completed the survey; 279 were females and 107 males. Overall, 49% in the study group had vision related problems; 164 had spectacles, 21 had contact lenses and 4 had undergone LASIK surgery. In signicant number of students (n=131,80%) myopic progression was noted during the course; 69 were mild, 37 moderate and 25 were of severe category. Smartphone was the commonest device used (n=306, 79.3%) followed by Tablet/iPad (n=31, 8%) and laptop (n=3, 0.8%); 46 students (12%) use multiple gadgets on a routine basis. 202 students (52.3%) spend >6 hrs./Day with the devices. Majority (n=311,80.6%) take a break between every 30 minutes-1 hour. The most common symptom was dryness of eyes (n=137,35%), followed by head ache (n=127,33%). While the symptoms were reported to be occasional in majority of the subjects, in 20 subjects these symptoms were reported to be persistent. With more than 90% of the participants reporting any of the symptoms related to extended screen time exposure, it is an issue of serious concern and should be considered as an emerging health problem.