Digital Screen Time and Myopia: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis
Ha A, Lee YJ, Lee M, Shim SR, Kim YK
JAMA network open · 42 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Meta-analysis (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Clinical events such as disease or death
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- University or hospital
- Jeju National University
- Grants
- Jeju National University (C3197)
Based on 1 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2025-02-21 · JAMA Netw Open · vol. 8 · issue 2 · p. e2460026
- Publisher
- American Medical Association
- Cited
- 77 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 45.7× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 80 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Ophthalmology and Visual Impairment Studies · Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Keywords
- myopia, screen time, myopia risk, myopia progression, dose-response relationship, children and adolescents, smartphone use, television viewing, computer use, eye health
- MeSH
- humans, myopia, risk factors, female, male, screen time
5 authors
From KR, IE
- Ahnul HaJeju National University Hospital; Jeju National University
- Yun Jeong LeeChungnam National University; Chungnam National University Hospital
- Marvin Lee
- Sung Ryul ShimKonyang University
- Young Kook Kim · correspondingSeoul National University; Trinity College Dublin; Seoul National University Hospital
Abstract
Importance
The association of digital screen time with myopia has been documented, but the dose-response association and safe exposure threshold remain unclear.
Objective
To evaluate the dose-response association of time spent on digital screens with myopia risk.
Data sources
PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for full-length articles from peer-reviewed journals without restrictions on study design, publication date, or language from inception to November 25, 2024.
Study selection
Primary research articles investigating the association of exposure to digital screen devices (ie, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, computers, or television) with myopia-related outcomes (ie, prevalent or incident myopia and the rate of myopia progression) were identified by reviewers.
Data extraction and synthesis
Two independent reviewers extracted data using a standardized procedure in accordance with the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. A random-effects, dose-response meta-analysis (DRMA) was utilized to examine the pattern of the association of screen time with myopia.
Main outcome and measures
Increased odds of myopia per hour of daily screen time.
Results
In the linear DRMA of 45 studies with 335 524 participants (mean [SD] age, 9.3 [4.3] years), an additional hour of daily screen time was associated with higher odds of myopia (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.30). The nonlinear DRMA of 34 studies with 314 910 participants also indicated higher odds of myopia with increasing screen time, ranging from 1 hour of daily exposure (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09) to 4 hours (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.56-2.40). The dose-response curve showed myopia risk increasing significantly between 1 to 4 hours of daily screen time, and then rising more gradually after 4 hours.
Conclusions and relevance
In this systematic review and DRMA, a daily 1-hour increment in digital screen time was associated with 21% higher odds of myopia and the dose-response pattern exhibited a sigmoidal shape, indicating a potential safety threshold of less than 1 hour per day of exposure, with an increase in odds up to 4 hours. These findings can offer guidance to clinicians and researchers regarding myopia risk.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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