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Prolonged viewing of electronic devices does not significantly alter accommodative behavior, and there is no systematic relationship between post-task accommodative adaptation and refractive status in young adults. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

October 30, 2025Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science1 citationsOpen Access

Dynamics of Accommodative Behavior Under Prolonged Viewing of Electronic Devices in Young Adults

RSRaman Prasad SahUniversity of Houston DMDawn MeyerBAE Systems (Sweden)PKPete KollbaumPurdue University West Lafayette

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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic characteristics of accommodative behavior in non-myopic and myopic young adults under prolonged viewing of electronic devices. Methods: Sixteen subjects aged 18 to 25 were recruited: 8 non-myopes (-0.25 to +2.0 diopters D), and 8 myopes (-0.50 to -6.0 D). Refractive state was assessed using an open-field autorefractor in dynamic mode. A comprehensive evaluation of accommodative behavior included (1) pre-task tonic accommodation (TA), computed as the difference in refraction before and after 5 minutes of dark adaptation, (2) refractive state during a 20-minute sustained near task at 25 cm on an iPhone, and (3) post-task adaptation over 3 minutes, under open-loop (open-loop accommodative adaptation OLAA) and closed-loop (near work-induced transient myopia NITM) conditions. Data were collected in two sessions for OLAA and NITM. Results: Pre-task TA (mean ± SD) did not differ significantly between refractive groups (P = 0.74 and 0.05 for the 2 sessions): non-myopes 0.15 ± 0.33 and 0.16 ± 0.22 D; myopes 0.10 ± 0.12 and -0.03 ± 0.08 D in the OLAA and NITM sessions, respectively. In both groups, refractive state and pupil size remained stable throughout the 20-minute near task, with no significant main effects of time, group, or time × group interaction (linear mixed-effects analysis, P ≥ 0.05). Subjects exhibited a typical accommodative lag of approximately 1.00 D (mean ± SD, non-myopes = 1.02 ± 0.06 and 1.08 ± 0.05 D; myopes = 1.09 ± 0.06 and 1.09 ± 0.08 D, in the OLAA and NITM sessions, respectively). Post task, NITM was more commonly observed than OLAA. Conclusions: Prolonged near tasks did not significantly affect accommodative behavior of participants in either refractive group under open- or closed-loop conditions. Although accommodative adaptation was observed post-task, no systematic relationship was found between its magnitude or decay and refractive status.

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