Association between Time Spent on Smart Devices and Change in Refractive Error: A 1-Year Prospective Observational Study among Hong Kong Children and Adolescents

Chi-wai Do, Lily Y. L. Chan, Andy C. Y. Tse, Teris Cheung, Billy C. L. So, Wing Chun Tang, W. Y. Yu, Geoffrey C. H. Chu, Grace P. Y. Szeto, Regina L. T. Lee and Paul H. Lee
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Chi-wai Do: Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Lily Y. L. Chan: Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Andy C. Y. Tse: Department of Health and Physical Education, Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Teris Cheung: School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Billy C. L. So: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Wing Chun Tang: Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
W. Y. Yu: Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Geoffrey C. H. Chu: Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Grace P. Y. Szeto: School of Medical and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong, China
Regina L. T. Lee: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Paul H. Lee: School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-11

Abstract: This study examined the association between smart device usage and the 1-year change in refractive error among a representative sample of Hong Kong children and adolescents aged 8–14 years. A total of 1597 participants (49.9% male, mean age 10.9, SD 2.0) who completed both baseline (2017–2018) and 1-year follow-up (2018–2019) eye examinations were included in the present study. The non-cycloplegic auto-refractive error was measured and the average spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was analyzed. The participants also self-reported their smart device usage at baseline. Multivariate regression adjusted for age, sex, baseline SER, parents’ short-sightedness, BMI, time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and caregiver-reported socio-economic status showed that, compared with the reference group (<2 h per day on both smartphone and tablet usages), those who spent ≥2 h per day using a smartphone and <2 h per day using a tablet had a significantly negative shift in refractive error (1-year change in SER −0.25 vs. −0.09 D, p = 0.01) for the right eye, while the level of significance was marginal (1-year change −0.28 vs. −0.15 D, p = 0.055) for the left eye. To conclude, our data suggested spending at most 2 h per day on both smartphones and tablets.

Keywords: handheld device; myopia; prospective; smartphone; tablet; teenage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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