Change in refractive error after prolonged use of smart phone in ambient light.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Smartphones and mobile figuring maneuvers are being used by an increasingly larger number of people today. This has led to an increase in the number of patients complaining about ocular and non-ocular symptoms associated to compute and mobile use. This study compares the change in the refractive status of an eye before and after use of a smartphone in ambient light.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the refractive status before and after prolonged use of smartphone and to document any change in refractive status and correlate it with duration of use of a smartphone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was comparative cross-sectional study, conducted on hundred ametropes aged between 20 to 30 years. Change in refractive status by using autorefractometer before and after one hour use of a smartphone in ambient light was assessed by filling a self-structured proforma.

RESULTS: By comparing the refractive status of emmetropic persons before and after use of a smartphone for one hour in ambient light conditions indicated that there was a significant change in the refractive status of about 0.25-0.50Ds. There was an increase in minus and decrease in plus number which was the indication of myopic shift for distance while using a smartphone for a prolonged time. That myopic shift was transient which disappeared after few minutes

CONCLUSION: It is included that there was a change in refractive status before and after use of a smartphone. There was a significant change in the refractive status of about 0.25-0.50 Diopters. There was an increase in minus and decrease in plus number or induction of transient myopic shift. That myopic shift was transient which disappeared after few minutes.