Screen time exposure was found to be significantly linked to myopia in children and adolescents, according to the results of a recent meta-analysis.
"In recent years, the influence of screen time exposure on children’s vision has attracted worldwide attention. Our study provided significant evidence for the correlation between screen time exposure and myopia," wrote study investigators.
"To our knowledge, this study is the largest and most comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of screen time exposure and myopia in children and adolescents."
The systematic review included data from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, covering studies published before June 1, 2023. The researchers used the Newcastle Ottawa Scale to assess the risk of bias, and summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
From 7,571 records, 19 eligible studies were identified, involving 102,360 participants. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between high screen time and myopia. The pooled ORs were 2.24 (95% CI: 1.47–3.42) for cross-sectional studies and 2.39 (95% CI: 2.07–2.76) for cohort studies. Additionally, a significant association was found between continuous screen time (per 1 hour/day increase) and myopia in cohort studies (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01–1.13).
Subgroup analysis indicated that screen time from computers had the most substantial impact on myopia (categorical: OR: 8.19, 95% CI: 4.78–14.04; continuous: OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10–1.35), while television exposure also showed a significant association (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.02–2.10). However, smartphone use did not demonstrate a significant link to myopia.
Geographic and temporal subgroup analyses showed significant associations in East Asia and South Asia, but not in Europe and America, and in studies conducted after 2008. Sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out method confirmed the robustness of the results, and publication bias was detected and adjusted using the trim and fill method, which did not significantly alter the pooled ORs.
The majority of studies included in the BMC Public Health analysis employed a cross-sectional design, which limited the ability to establish causality between screen time exposure and myopia.
The authors noted potential biases, such as recall bias and a lack of adjustment for outdoor activities, that could have influenced the findings.
To develop effective prevention strategies, further research is needed to explore the independent effects of various screen devices on myopia while addressing the limitations of the current study designs.
The authors declared no competing interests.
