– Seoul National University Hospital Analyzes Correlation Between Digital Screen Exposure Time and Myopia Risk
– 21% Increase in Myopia Risk for Every Additional Hour of Exposure, Sharp Rise Between 1-4 Hours,
, ‘[The Herald Economy = Kim Tae-yeol, Senior Reporter on Health and Medicine] It has been confirmed that the risk of developing myopia increases with extended use of digital devices. Specifically, the probability of developing myopia increases by 21% for every additional hour of digital screen exposure per day, with a sharp rise in risk occurring between 1 to 4 hours of exposure. This study is the first meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between digital screen exposure time and myopia, offering new guidelines for safe digital device usage to prevent myopia.’,
, ‘Myopia is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2050, half of the global population will experience myopia. The onset of myopia is occurring earlier, with the speed and severity of progression becoming more serious, raising the risk of vision impairments such as macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and glaucoma. Researchers conducted this study with the hypothesis that increased digital screen exposure time may elevate the risk of myopia, though the precise correlation and safe exposure thresholds remain unclear.’,
, ‘Professor Kim Young-kook’s team from the Ophthalmology Department at Seoul National University Hospital conducted a comprehensive analysis of 45 studies published up to November 2024, using data from a total of 335,524 individuals to perform a meta-analysis on the relationship between digital exposure time and myopia risk, announced on the 24th.’,
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| [Graph] Non-linear Analysis of Digital Screen Exposure Time and Myopia Risk: Illustrates the sharp increase in myopia risk with increased digital screen exposure |
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, ‘The research team selected studies from major medical databases, including PubMed and EMBASE, that examined the relationship between digital screen exposure time and myopia. Using a dose-response meta-analysis (DRMA), they converted the reported ‘risk of myopia incidence based on digital screen exposure time’ from each study into hourly units to calculate risk factors. Two analytical models were employed to assess the impact of digital screen exposure time on myopia risk. The linear analysis assessed the consistent proportional increase in myopia risk with increasing digital screen exposure time, while the non-linear analysis was used to identify patterns of rapid risk growth with increased exposure.’,
, ‘According to the linear analysis results, myopia incidence risk increased by 21% for each additional hour of digital screen exposure per day (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.30). This indicates a consistent increase in myopia risk for every extra hour of screen exposure.’,
, ‘The non-linear analysis results showed a significant increase in myopia risk starting from just one hour of digital screen exposure per day, with a proportional jump in risk between 1 to 4 hours. Specifically, the risk of developing myopia increased by 5% with 1 hour of exposure, 29% with 2 hours, and 65% with 3 hours. Exceeding 4 hours doubled the risk, but the rate of increase slowed, forming an S-shaped correlation.’,
, ‘The age-specific analysis revealed significant correlations across all age groups: 2-7 years (odds ratio 1.42), 8-18 years (odds ratio 1.12), and 19 years and older (odds ratio 1.16), with digital screen exposure having a more substantial impact on younger age groups. Furthermore, using multiple digital devices concurrently showed a trend of increased myopia risk compared to using individual devices.’,
, ‘Professor Kim Young-kook (Ophthalmology) stated, “This study confirms that digital screen exposure for more than one hour per day can increase myopia risk. Limiting screen exposure to under four hours a day can serve as a safe benchmark for myopia prevention.”’,
, ‘He added, “Amidst the global rise in myopia prevalence, this study is significant as it provides specific guidelines regarding digital screen exposure time.” This study was published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, ‘JAMA Network Open.’’,
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