Purpose: This study was done to determine the relation between digital screens use and the prevalence of dry eye disease using Media works Dry eye diagnostic system (D130) & OSDI.
Patients and methods: The study enrolled 132 subjects who are digital screens users. The outcome measures were non-invasive break up time (NIBUT), tear meniscus height, lipid layer, eyelid edge, meibomian gland, ocular surface staining & eye redness analysis. Also assessment of blink rate, duration of digital screens use & accommodative spasm was done.
Results: Most of participants (90.9%) had eye discomfort (62.1%) of them use digital screens > 3 hours & use digital screens at bedtime. Blink rate was low in (69.7%) of participants, accommodative spasm was found in (34.8%) of them. The results were classified to three groups according NIBUT (Normal, warning to dry eye & dry eye), the bed time digital screen use, type of digital screen & amount of accommodative spasm were found to be statistically significant different between the NIBUT groups (p= 0.004, 0.025 & 0.019, respectively). Dry eye diagnostic system parameters, were more affected in dry eye group with statistically significant differences between three groups regarding tear meniscus height, lipid layer , meibomian gland loss, eye lid edge, eye redness & ocular surface staining (p<0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, p=0.001 & <0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: digital screens use was associated with tear film instability. It was related to use of digital screens for longer duration. Assessment of DED by dry eye diagnostic system allows prediction of (DED).