Screen time, strained eyes: knowledge and attitudes toward rising screen hours and ocular health among adults aged 20-30 in sri lanka.

Authors

Walgama Apru Walgama, Sawkenda Ma Manjulee, Binoshi N Warisadeera, Samarappuli D P B Kumara, Marasinhage T Sewwandi, Maheshi P Lakshman, Faiz M M T Marikar

Published in

International ophthalmology. Volume 46. Issue 1. Jul 04, 2026. Epub Jul 04, 2026.

Abstract

This study was done at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of The National Hospital of Sri Lanka to explore how the increasing prevalence of digital screen usage has raised concerns regarding its effects on the eye, particularly among vicenarians.
The study was conducted as a descriptive correlational study, including 320 patients who were aged 20-30 years, and attended the Outpatient Department of National Hospital Sri Lanka; A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess and evaluate knowledge and attitude regarding increasing screen hours and effects on eye among patients. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, and percentages, are used to summarize demographic and key study variables. The data analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0 and Kolmogorov Smirnov and Shapiro Wilk tests which were used to assess normality, non-parametric tests were used for further analysis.
The study revealed that while most participants (71.6%) were concerned about the long-term effects of screen use, only 60% were specifically concerned about their own screen time. A significant correlation (r = 0.643, p < 0.01) was found between the frequency and severity of ophthalmic symptoms. Gender and screen illumination showed significant associations with ophthalmic problems, while other demographic factors, including age, education level, and screen usage duration, were not significantly related. Additionally, awareness of the harmful effects of prolonged screen time was significantly associated with attitude (p = 0.05), with males exhibiting a significantly different attitude than females (p = 0.039).
and recommendations. The findings highlighted significant associations between gender, screen illumination, and ophthalmic symptoms. Despite awareness of the risks, many participants did not take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of prolonged screen exposure. The study emphasizes the need for educational initiatives and targeted interventions to address screen-related eye effects.

PMID:
42401741
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 05 Jul 2026.

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