A study on adolescents' digital device use, eye health awareness, and preventive pharmacy interventions
The increasing use of digital devices has raised concerns about adolescent eye health, with South Korean high school students using smartphones for an average of 4.7 hours on weekdays and 6.47 hours on weekends, potentially leading to eye fatigue and dry eye syndrome. This study examines digital device usage patterns and their impact on eye health through a survey of 134 high school students in Seoul, assessing digital device habits, symptoms, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores. T-tests analyzed differences in OSDI scores based on contact lens use (p=0.021), ophthalmic conditions (p=0.028), and dry eye syndrome diagnosis (p=0.00008). 47% of respondents reported dry eye symptoms, with 12.9% classified as severe cases, while 53.8% frequently experienced eye fatigue, and 53.1% did not take breaks even after prolonged use. Many adolescents fail to recognize their eye health issues despite experiencing discomfort. The findings highlight the need for proactive eye health management. Pharmacies can play a key role by offering education, lifestyle guidance, and preventive counseling to encourage healthier digital device habits among adolescents.
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