Erum Shahid, Uzma Taqi, Muhammad Wamiq, Uzma Fasih and Asad Raza Jafri
Study Objective: To determine the duration of average daily screen time during the last 3 months of COVID-19 and its ocular impact on children all over Pakistan.
Method: A prospective and Cross-sectional online survey conducted from March to May, 2021 included parents of children between 2 and 16 years of age with an internet access. A self-designed questionnaire on Google forms was sent online to see the average daily screen time and frequency of ocular symptoms among their children during COVID-19.
Results: A total of 378 participants were selected by snowball sampling technique. Females were 200 (53%) and male children were 178(47%). Children between 7-11 years of age group were159 (42%). The majority of children spent 5- 7 hours and 8 – 10 hours on screen per day in the last 3 months of covid-19 i.e. 48% and 30% respectively. Children utilized digital electronic gadgets for multiple purposes were 268 (71%). Children complain of blur vision was 26% and red eye was 6% most of the time. Furthermore, 31 % had complained of eye pain occasionally and 14%, most of time. Headache, watering, photophobia, foreign body sensation and double vision were also notified by 5%, 4%, 1%, 4% and 2% of children respectively.
Conclusion: The Duration of average daily screen time in our country is more than 5 hours per day during COVID-19. Blur vision and eye pain are the most common symptoms experienced by children.