Influence of Cellular Phone Videos and Games on Dry Eye Syndrome in University Students

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of cellular phone videos and games on dry eye syndrome in university students. METHODS: A randomized comparison group pre-post design is used. Sixty university students were randomly assigned to either a video or a game group. Frequencies of blinking, dry eye symptoms scores and amounts of tears were measured. Thirty subjects watched cellular phone video programmes and the other 30 subjects played cellular phone games for 61 minutes. In addition, frequencies of blinking were measured three times during treatment, once immediately after a treatment and twice at an interval of 20 minutes after subsequent treatments. RESULTS: Post-test scores of frequencies of blinking significantly decreased, dry eye symptoms scores including amounts of tears significantly increased greater than pre-test scores in both groups. But there were no significant differences between the groups. Frequencies of blinking were significantly different with respect to the time spent using cellular phone. In both groups, the lowest frequencies of blinking were shown after 40 minutes of cellular phone use. CONCLUSION: This study shows that using cellular phone has negative influence on dry eye syndrome and eyes require a resting period after cellular phone use over 40 minutes.