Screen Time and Myopia-Related Outcomes in European Children: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Childhood myopia is a growing public health concern.
• Digital device use and screen time are suspected contributors to myopia development and progression.
• Understanding these associations in European populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the association between screen-related behaviors and myopia in European children and adolescents.
• To evaluate the impact of digital device use, near work, and outdoor exposure on myopia.
• To identify risk factors and confounders in myopia development.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major databases (Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane/CENTRAL).
• Inclusion of original English-language studies from the last 10 years involving participants under 18 in Europe.
• Analysis of 14 studies investigating screen time, digital device use, near work, and myopia outcomes.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests an association between screen behaviors, prolonged near work, and reduced outdoor time with myopia.
• Outdoor activity showed a protective effect; parental myopia was a significant risk factor.
• Findings were heterogeneous, with varied screen exposure measures and low to very low certainty of evidence.

Conclusions:

• Screen-related behaviors, near work, and reduced outdoor time are associated with myopia in European youth.
• Parental myopia is a key risk factor.
• Further longitudinal studies with objective measures are needed to establish causality and inform interventions.