ArticlePloS one2025
Association of excessive screen time exposure with ocular changes leading to astigmatism in children.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Characterisation and risk factors of astigmatism among children and adolescents aged 3-20 years in Northwestern China.Journal of global health · 2026Article
- The role of astigmatism in myopia development, myopia progression and myopia control.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025Review
- Correction: Association of excessive screen time exposure with ocular changes leading to astigmatism in children.PloS one · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe purpose of this study was to find the relationship between excessive screen time exposure and the development of astigmatism in children.
methodsA cross-sectional correlational study was conducted at tertiary care hospital, Islamabad between June 2023 to May 2024. In total, 431 patients were included in this study after informed written consent. Screen time exposure was assessed through smartphone usage history or parental reports of daily use of smart gadget(s). Tear break-up time was measured using a fluorescein strip, cobalt blue filter on a slit-lamp biomicroscope and a stopwatch. Data was analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical tests including Spearman's correlation and regression analyses.
resultsThe study included 431 children (mean age: 6.70 ± 1.80 years; 55% male, 45% female). Mean screen time was 4.54 ± 1.52 hours/day. A positive correlation between screen time and the magnitude of astigmatism was observed (r = 0.33, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed a significant relationship among screen time and astigmatism (B = 0.177, CI: 0.80-0.25). Tear break- up time (TBUT) showed a significant negative correlation with screen time (r = -0.167, p < 0.001), and reduced TBUT was linked to a higher risk of inflammatory conjunctivitis and lid thickening (B = -0.431, CI: -0.12 to -0.49, p < 0.001). The results highlighted that inflammatory conjunctivitis/lid thickness have three times greater risk of developing high astigmatism (OR = 3.31, p-value < 0.001, CI = 1.91 to 5.73) while the risk of moderate astigmatism in such cases was two times higher (2.12, p-value = 0.004, CI = 1.26-3.56). However, the effect of lid thickness on astigmatism when combining with screen time has a little effect that is not significant (p-value = 0.053). Thus, excessive screen time is an independent risk factor of causing astigmatism in children (p < 0.001). The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test demonstrated significant improvement in visual acuity after correction (p < 0.001).
conclusionExcessive screen time in children is significantly associated with astigmatism, tear film instability, inflammatory ocular conditions, including conjunctivitis and lid thickening. These findings suggest the need for preventive strategies, such as reducing screen time and encouraging regular eye examinations, to protect children's ocular health.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.