Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40009277›Full record

ArticleIrish journal of medical science2025

Excessive screen time exposure leads to dry eyes and inflammatory conjunctivitis in children.

Mutahir Shah, Satheesh Babu Natarajan, Nafees Ahmad

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Article in Irish journal of medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mutahir ShahDepartment of Health Sciences, Lincoln University College, Jalan SS, Patalang Jaya, Wisma Lincoln, Malaysia. mshah@lincoln.edu.my.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2901-0774
Satheesh Babu NatarajanDepartment of Health Sciences, Lincoln University College, Jalan SS, Patalang Jaya, Wisma Lincoln, Malaysia.
Nafees AhmadInstitute of Biomedical and Genetic Engineering, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe rise in usage of smartphones and digital devices among pediatric population has raised concerns about their eye's health. It is of particular interest in relation to dry eye disease (DED) and inflammatory conjunctivitis. Prolonged screen exposure is linked to reduced blink rates, tear evaporation, and tear break-up time (TBUT), that can lead to ocular discomfort and tear instability.

objectiveTo find association between excessive screen time, dry eye disease, and inflammatory conjunctivitis in children aged 3 to 11 years.

methodsA cross-sectional correlational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital Islamabad. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted. Detailed ophthalmic examinations, including TBUT and blink rate assessments, were performed. The relationship between excessive screen time, TBUT, blink rate, and inflammatory conjunctivitis was assessed using multivariate analysis. A 95% confidence interval was kept significant.

resultsA total of 479 participants aged 6.7 ± 1.9 were included. The mean screen time was 4.52 ± 1.49 hour/day, while mean TBUT was 10.29 ± 3.17. A significant negative relationship was found between screen time and TBUT (B =  - 0.351, p < 0.001). The TBUT and inflammatory conjunctivitis showed a significant relationship (χ

conclusionExcessive screen time is significantly associated with reduced TBUT and a lower blink rate in children, contributing to dry eye disease and inflammatory conjunctivitis.

Indexed as

ConjunctivitisDry Eye SyndromesScreen TimeBlinkingChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleTearsChildrenConjunctivitisDry eyesExcessive screen timeTBUT

Identifiers

PMID40009277

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