Changes in Accommodation and Vergence Measurements After Smartphone Use in Healthy Young Adults

Abstract

Background The primary objective of this study was to explore the impacts of extended smartphone usage on accommodation and vergence measurements among healthy young adults. Specifically it seeks to identify any changes that may occur in these ocular functions as a result of extended use of smartphones.Objectives To determine pre and post accommodation and vergence components.Methods A cross-sectional research project was conducted at Mangala College of Allied Health Sciences in Mangalore. The study involved 32 young and healthy individuals with normal vision emmetropia aged between 18 to 25 years. After initial visual screening the participants were evaluated for their accommodation and vergence abilities. Specifically they were asked to read N8 text on a smartphone device placed at a working distance of 40 cm for a duration of 30 minutes. Measurements were taken before and after this task and tabulated for analysis.Results In this study a total of 32 participants were included comprising of 12 37 males and 20 63 females with an average age of 19.00plusmn1.21 years. The results obtained from the assessment of accommodation and vergence measurements before and after 30 minutes of reading on a smartphone device indicate statistically significant changes.Conclusion The findings of this research indicate that prolonged reading on a smartphone device for 30 minutes can have a significant impact on the accommodation vergence and unit of vision for the individual.