The Impact of Prolonged Screen Time on Retinal Health and Visual Functioning in Young Adults

Abstract

The increasing incidence of digital gadgets usage has escalated concerns regarding the potential consequences on ocular as well as retinal health, among young adults. This research study has evaluated the potential consequences of extensive screen time on visual functioning along with its effects on retinal health, also focusing on the aesthenopic signs and symptoms, refractive status, degree of myopia, binocular visual functioning and retinal alterations. A cohort of 85 young adults 18-30 years of age was categorized based on their average daily screen time. For the comprehensive ophthalmological assessments, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for measurement of the macula thickness, Worth Four Dot Test for the assessment of degree of binocular vision functioning, and for Visual Acuity assessment Snellen charts were used along with a detailed questionnaire. The results suggested a significant correlation between excessively high screen time and prevalence of aesthenopic symptoms i.e. eye strain, dryness of eyes, blur vision and headache. Furthermore analysis, indicated noticeable trend toward decline of visual acuity and an inclination in degree of myopia in individuals with higher screen time along with that this study highlighted the potential influence of excessive exposure to screen time on binocular visual functioning, with the findings underlying the compromised binocular vision interlinked with excessive exposure to screen time. Furthermore, the thickness evaluation of macula in the final step demonstrated the potential retinal alterations, which has raised concerns regarding an early onset of macula thinning which ultimately highlighted cause of early signs of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Hence, this research study stated that the demand of awareness and proactive measures to limit as well as to mitigate the detrimental effects of extended screen time on eye health, more dominantly in young adults, who are more inclined to these escalating visual challenges.