Abstract
Background: Digital screen exposure and changing dietary habits have become one of the many lifestyle-defining features for children and young adults. These shifts have raised concerns about their potential influence on eye health, particularly the rising prevalence of myopia and dry eye. Understanding how these behavioral and environmental factors interact or independently contribute towards eye health in children and young adults is essential for developing preventive strategies.Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed across PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus, including studies published in English language between 2014 and 2025. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies involving individuals aged 5 - 25 years were eligible. All records were screened and managed using Covidence, and methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Due to heterogeneity in study design, populations, and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis approach was used to integrate findings.
Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Three key themes were identified: (1) perceptions, behaviors, and lived experiences related to digital screen use; (2) Relationship between dietary patterns and ocular health; and (3) Independent and combined effects of screen time and diet on myopia and dry eye. Evidence consistently shows that prolonged screen use and reduced outdoor exposure contribute to visual strain, myopia progression, and symptoms of dry eye among children and young adults, and poor dietary patterns mostly have an enhancing effect on the issues of eye health.
Conclusion: Digital lifestyles and nutritional behaviors significantly influence ocular health in the young population. Addressing these factors through preventive education, lifestyle modification, and further longitudinal research is essential to reduce future visual impairment.
| Date of Award | 15 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Rajeeb Kumar Sah (Main Supervisor) & Devendra Singh (Co-Supervisor) |