EFFECT OF DIGITAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES ON EYE HEALTH IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

Purpose: To study the effect of electronic screen devices on eye health of school children in the form of refractive errors, dry eye, asthenopia etc. Methods: 200 children from the age group 5-15 years were included in the study out of which 100 were from the urban area and 100 from the rural area with comparatively lesser exposure to computer or cellular smartphones. History regarding the use of electronic devices was asked in detail and examination was carried out including vision, refraction, slit lamp and fundus examination. Results and conclusion: Children from the urban subpopulation were found to have easy access to digital screen devices and hence were found to spend excessive amount of time using these devices. Also, refractive error found in this subpopulation was myopia more than hypermetropia. Astigmatism was also observed commonly in urban children using digital devices more frequently than rural children.