Purpose

Extended screen time amongst youth is a pervasive global phenomenon, with wide-ranging implications for health and quality of life. Dry eye disease is increasingly reported as emerging in paediatric populations and is associated with modified blinking behaviour during extended screen time. This study sought to evaluate spontaneous blink rates, dry eye symptomology and screen use habits of young extended screen time users.

Methods

Attendees of a gaming convention in Auckland, NZ, completed a self-directed iPad-based survey on personal screen use habits and ocular symptoms using the 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) and the Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaire. Blink rate was covertly and concomitantly recorded using the front-facing iPad camera and quantified by automated software. A validated, self-assessment blink test was administered as a proxy for tear film stability measurements.

Results

A total of 456 respondents (mean age ± SD: 24 ± 10 years, range: 13 – 75, 38% female) reported an average weekly screen time of 43.7 ± 24.4 h. DEQ-5 and SANDE scores were 10 ± 3 and 34 ± 19; 90% of respondents qualified as symptomatic for dry eye disease (DEQ-5 ≥ 6). Blink test results suggested a tear film stability < 10 s in 24% of cases. Poorer symptomology correlated with increased screen use, elevated blink rates and reduced proxy tear film stability (r = 0.15 to 0.22, all p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Extended screen time in a young population was associated with blinking behaviour and symptomology consistent with patients with dry eye. Implementing routine clinical screening, educational interventions, and developing official guidance on safe screen use may help prevent an accelerated degradation of ocular surface health and quality of life in young people.

中文翻译：

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青少年屏幕时间延长和干眼症

目的

年轻人的屏幕时间延长是一种普遍的全球现象，对健康和生活质量具有广泛的影响。越来越多的报道称，干眼症在儿科人群中出现，并且与延长屏幕时间期间眨眼行为的改变有关。本研究旨在评估年轻的延长屏幕时间用户的自发眨眼率、干眼症状和屏幕使用习惯。

方法

新西兰奥克兰游戏大会的与会者使用 5 项干眼问卷 (DEQ-5) 和干眼症状评估 (SANDE) 完成了一项基于 iPad 的关于个人屏幕使用习惯和眼部症状的自主调查问卷。使用前置 iPad 摄像头同时记录眨眼率，并通过自动化软件进行量化。一项经过验证的自我评估眨眼测试被用作泪膜稳定性测量的代理。

结果

共有 456 名受访者（平均年龄 ± SD：24 ± 10 岁，范围：13 – 75，38% 女性）报告平均每周屏幕时间为 43.7 ± 24.4 小时。DEQ-5 和 SANDE 评分分别为 10 ± 3 和 34 ± 19；90% 的受访者符合干眼病症状（DEQ-5 ≥ 6）。眨眼测试结果表明，24% 的病例泪膜稳定性 < 10 秒。较差的症状与屏幕使用增加、眨眼率升高和代理泪膜稳定性降低相关（r = 0.15 至 0.22，均 p < 0.01）。

结论

在年轻人群中延长筛查时间与干眼症患者的眨眼行为和症状相关。实施常规临床筛查、教育干预和制定有关安全屏幕使用的官方指南可能有助于防止年轻人眼表健康和生活质量的加速退化。