Association of different digital media experiences with paediatric dry eye in China: a population-based study
Junxin Ma, Hui Zhu, Wei Guo, Rui Li, Shiya Shen, Yun Wang, Dan Huang, Xiaohan Zhang, Zhujun Fu, Andi Zhao, Danni Chen, Jiahao Si, Jiyu Zhang, Shasha Xu, Liyuan Wang, Hu Liu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ocular surface effects of different digital media experiences in Chinese elementary school students. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study was used. SETTING: 14 randomly selected primary schools in Yuhuatai District, Nanjing, China PARTICIPANTS: 2,694 students between 7 and 8-year-old. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of and risk factors for different types of dry eye disease，and different digital media experience with different ocular signs. RESULTS: The prevalence of 'symptomatic DED' was 8.7% (95% CI 7.6% to 9.8%) and 'definite DED' prevalence rate was 5.5% (95% CI 4.7% to 6.4%). In multivariable logistic regression model, allergic conjunctivitis (OR=4.33, 95% CI (3.01 to 6.23), p<0.001), more than 1 hour per day on outdoor activity (OR=0.69, 95% CI (0.49 to 0.99), p=0.043), smartphone (OR=2.73, 95% CI (1.51 to 4.91), p=0.001), tablet (OR=2.09, 95% CI (1.07 to 4.07), p=0.030) and homework (OR=1.86, 95% CI (1.22 to 2.83), p=0.004) were independently associated with 'definite DED', while allergic conjunctivitis (OR=5.58, 95% CI (4.12 to 7.55), p<0.001), more than 1 hour per day on outdoor activity (OR=0.72, 95% CI (0.53 to 0.97), p=0.028), smartphone (OR=2.60, 95% CI (1.55 to 4.35), p<0.001), tablet (OR=1.84, 95% CI (1.02 to 3.34), p=0.044) and homework (OR=2.57, 95% CI (1.84 to 3.60), p<0.001) were independently associated with 'symptomatic DED'. CONCLUSIONS: Using smartphones or tablets for an average of more than 1 hour per day through the course of a year is independently associated with paediatric DED.