Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41769325›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in digital health2026

Digital eye health and behavioral determinants of screen use among university students in the UAE.

Mohamed Anas Patni, Wafeeqa Fatima, Maitha Abdulla Alshamsi, Hawa Ali Jama, Mohammad Shafeeq, Rikhil Rajiv, Mouhamad Soubhi Alsoued, Biji Thomas George, Rasha Aziz Attia Salama, Abdalla Ahmed Eldaw Elamin and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in digital health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
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

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Mohamed Anas PatniDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Wafeeqa FatimaDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Maitha Abdulla AlshamsiDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Hawa Ali JamaDepartment of General Surgery, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAKMHSU, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Mohammad ShafeeqDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Rikhil RajivDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Mouhamad Soubhi AlsouedDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Biji Thomas GeorgeDepartment of General Surgery, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAKMHSU, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Rasha Aziz Attia SalamaDepartment of Community Medicine, Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Abdalla Ahmed Eldaw ElaminDepartment of Anatomy, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAKMHSU, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Thilakavathy PanduranganDepartment of Microbiology, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAKMHSU, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Shadha Nasser BahutairDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAKMHSU, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Hafiz AhmadDepartment of Microbiology, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAKMHSU, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The growing integration of digital technologies into daily life has heightened concerns over visual health, particularly among young adults with prolonged screen exposure, with digital eye strain (DES), dry eye disease (DED), and myopia becoming increasingly prevalent. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), evidence on screen use and ocular health among university students remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence of eye-related disorders, behavioral correlates of screen use, and preventive practices among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with implications for digital health and wellbeing interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 463 undergraduate students from three universities in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. A validated self-administered questionnaire assessed demographics, device use, symptoms, and preventive practices (Cronbach's Results: Overall, 35.4% of students reported a diagnosed eye disorder. The majority used digital devices for 4-6 h (43.2%) or 7-9 h (34.1%) daily, with smartphones being the most common. Frequent symptoms included headaches (43.8%), neck/back pain (38.2%), eye strain (37.6%), and dry eyes (37.1%). Symptom scores were higher among females ( Conclusions: Eye disorders and digital eye strain are prevalent among university students, reflecting behavioral patterns of prolonged and unregulated screen use.

Indexed as

behavioral determinantsblue light filterdigital eye straindigital wellbeingscreen timeUAEuniversity students

Identifiers

PMID41769325
PMCPMC12936034

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Registered trials

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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.