Digital screens and symptoms on the ocular surface during quarantine due to COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether exposure time to digital screens has increased during the covid-19 pandemic, as well as the possible development of associated ocular symptoms. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted by means of electronic multiple-choice surveys carried out in April 2020 in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. Aspects regarding the increase of daily hours spent using screens were inquired. Descriptive analysis of the population set, also divided into age-matched groups, was also performed.
Results: Of a total of 1,525 individuals responding to the survey, 1,518 stated they were using screens. 89.4% expressed they had increased the time they spent viewing screens. In addition, 71.6% of people using screens reported ocular discomfort related to ocular surface problems (commonly dry eye sensation and itching). The rate of cases was consistently higher as the amount of digital screen viewing hours increased: 67.7%, 73.3%, 77.6% and 80% for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, respectively. In the group with no increase in screen use, less than half of the individuals (46.2%) reported symptoms. The age range evidencing the greatest increase in screen use was from 19 to 25 years (96.2%), followed by those between 26 and 35 years (94.6%) and with those older than 65 years (83.5%) in last place.
Conclusion: Time spent using digital screens increased during the pandemic (almost 90% of the population) in all the age groups, but mainly among younger individuals. More than 70% of screen users stated they had symptoms related to ocular surface disorders.