The Effects of the Smartphone, Tablet and Computer Overuses on Children's Eyes in COVID-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: Due to restrictions in COVID-19 pandemic, smartphone, tablet and computer (STC) overuses might occur. There were some concerns that light sources emitted blue light might affect anterior and posterior segment structures. We investigated effects of STC overuses on children’s eyes in pandemic.
METHODS: Sixty-four children’s findings at baseline (early periods of pandemic) (group-1) were compared with those after 1 year (group-2). Correlations between daily STC use time (DSTCUT) and ocular parameters were evaluated in group-2.
RESULTS: Compared to group-1, group-2 had longer DSTCUT (1.49±0.33 vs 5.62±0.57 hours, p<0.001), lower tear break-up time (TBUT) (12.70±1.45 vs 9.50±2.10 seconds, p=0.015), higher ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score (14.52±4.19 vs 25.22±5.75, p=0.007), more myopic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) (-1.00±0.30 vs -1.80±0.40 diopters, p=0.031), and greater axial length (22.69±0.43 vs 23.42±0.37 millimeters, p=0.038). Schirmer tests, central corneal thicknesses (CCT), keratometries, anterior chamber depths (ACD), lens thicknesses (LT), retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses, choroidal thicknesses and macular thicknesses of groups were similar (p>0.05). In group-2 as DSTCUT increased, TBUT (r=-0.368, p=0.034) decreased, OSDI score (r=0.384, p=0.028) increased and more myopic SER (r=0.340, p=0.045) occurred.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study in children to comprehensively investigate effects of STC overuses in pandemic on ocular surface, anterior and posterior segment structures together. We found that STC overuses in pandemic might increase tendency to dry eye and myopia, and might cause axial elongation. We also determined that at 1-year follow-up, STC overuses had no effect on CCT, keratometry, ACD, LT, and posterior segment parameters.