ASSOCIATION OF SMART PHONE USAGE AND EYE PROBLEMS AMONG SCHOOL-GOING STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Smartphone ownership has expanded rapidly among children and adolescents, and daily screen time often exceeds international recommendations. Excessive and problematic use of smartphone may contribute to eye problems, with digital eye strain acting as a potential mediating factor. Objective: To assess the impact of smartphone usage on eye problems among school-going adolescents and to examine the mediating role of digital eye strain in the relationship between smartphone addiction and eye problems. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among school-going adolescents using a structured self-administered questionnaire through pilot study. Smartphone addiction was considered the independent variable, eye problems as the dependent variable, and digital eye strain as the mediating variable. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses to assess associations and mediation effects. Results: Descriptive demographic results shows that males were in majority i.e. 61% (183) as per concern the age majority of the students aged 15 years were reported as 36.7% (110), in context of class of study, class 10th students were reported in majority, with the frequency of 136 (45.3%). As the level of smart phone usage was studied, majority of the sample size reported smartphone duration as 1-2 hours of 47% (141). The purpose of smartphone usage was also studied as the most if the time spent on social media reported as 50.7% (152). Screen protection glasses were reported as 6% of the sample. Conclusion: Smartphone addiction is significantly associated with eye problems among adolescents, with digital eye strain playing a mediating role. Promoting healthy smartphone use and preventive strategies may help reduce ocular problems in this population