Abstract
Smartphone use has become an indispensable part of our daily life. The handy design and powerful processor allow smartphone users to perform diversified tasks even when walking. This study aimed to investigate and compare the optical aftereffect and vergence adaptation of using a smartphone while walking and sitting. Twenty-nine young healthy adults (aged 19 to 24 years old) with normal binocular and accommodative functions were recruited. Participants were asked to watch a movie for 30 minutes using a smartphone while either walking on a treadmill or sitting on a chair. Corneal aberrations and near heterophoria were measured before and after smartphone use by a corneal topographer and modified Thorington heterophoria test, respectively. Using the smartphone while walking induced a change in corneal H/V astigmatism, becoming 0.11±0.03 μm less negative (two-way ANOVA repeated measures, Bonferroni post-hoc test, p = 0.001). This optical aftereffect was significantly higher than after smartphone use while sitting by 0.10±0.03 μm (paired t-test, p = 0.003). Although smartphone use did not result in a significant change in near heterophoria (Bonferroni post-hoc test, p > 0.15), the vergence adaptation showed relatively more eso- or less exo-deviation by 0.79±0.36Δ in the walking than the sitting condition (paired t-test, p = 0.037). Eyecare practitioners should be cautious of the potential optical after effect and vergence adaptation after prolonged smartphone usage.
Highlights
In this digital era, using a smartphone has become an indispensable part of our daily life
Peer Review History: PLOS recognizes the benefits of transparency in the peer review process; we enable the publication of all of the content of peer review and author responses alongside final, published articles
Smartphone use did not result in a significant change in near heterophoria (Bonferroni post-hoc test, p > 0.15), the vergence adaptation showed relatively more eso- or less exo-deviation by 0.79±0.36Δ in the walking than the sitting condition
Summary
In this digital era, using a smartphone has become an indispensable part of our daily life. Users can enjoy video streaming, play games, learn from diverse resources, engage in social media communication, and perform many other activities all with a single device. These robust features induce users to spend more time on their mobile devices. In Hong Kong, where over 90% of adults own at least one smartphone [2], average use of mobile devices is 2.4 hours each day, with 20% of users spending more than 4 hours per day [3]. Unlike traditional computers that can only be used at a fixed working station, the design of smartphones allows owners to use their mobile devices almost everywhere, even while they are walking
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