The correlation between near vision and smartphone use among ageing populations

Abstract

Background: This population-based, cross-sectional study aimed to assess the correlation between near vision and smartphone usage among people aged ≥50 years in China. Methods: This study was performed on the ocular health status of residents in Fujian Province, Southeast China. People aged ≥50 years were recruited. The main contents of the survey for the residents included socioeconomic status, uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), refractive state, as well as a questionnaire about smartphone usage and visual quality. Results: Smartphone adoption accounted for 67.7% (4,702 individuals) of the total population, which decreased with age in the elderly. Smartphone owners had a higher average UNVA of 0.31±0.18 than non-smartphone owners (0.23±0.14), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Individuals who used smartphones for a long time usually had better UNVA (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.144, P<0.001). The rates of complaints of distance vision loss, near vision loss, ocular surface discomfort in smartphone users were significantly higher than that of non-users (P<0.001). Also, smartphone adoption and visual quality differed between urban and rural respondents. Conclusions: Smartphone adoption and usage time in the elderly significantly decreased with age and UNVA, and the performance of visual impairment was not consistent in urban and rural areas.