As a Featured ‘Cause of Dry Eye Syndrome ‘Digital Screens

As digital screens have become more indispensable in our lives, the health problems they induce have become more frequent. Dry eye syndrome may be the most common and preventable of these health issues. In this study, we investigated the adversity of digital screens on tear function. This study evaluated the possible negative and potentially harmful effects of digital screens on the lacrimal system and tear functions with the voluntary participation of 221 patients who applied to a private eye hospital in March and April 2024. While the ocular surface conditions of the participating volunteers were evaluated with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores, lacrimal activity functions were measured with the Schirmer test. The cases were 25-50 years old. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) evaluated the severity of dryness in the eyes. We found a reciprocal and statistically significant difference between dry eye symptoms and OSDI scores. Smartphone usage for more than 5 years, especially with higher screen brightnesses, has been attributed to a higher risky behavior for dry eye syndrome.