Ophthalmic Physiol Opt March 2020 PMID 31943280

The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review.

Carla Lanca, Seang-Mei Saw

Mentions

90
Peak: 11 in Jan 2020
across 5 sources since Jan 2020

Extended reach

523,281
potential audience

Total likes

375

Video views

82,533

Mentions per month

Jan 2020 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News47 articles
  • X / Twitter35 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions reflect a cautious attitude towards the article, with several posts questioning the strength of the evidence, such as calls for more objective measurements and notes about mixed findings. The tone varies from skeptical remarks about self-reporting to acknowledgment of the article’s importance, but overall, the tone suggests an interest in the ongoing research rather than a strong belief that it vastly shifts current understanding.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

Many discussions highlight the mixed or inconclusive findings of the review, with some indicating skepticism about a strong link, while others acknowledge the complexity of the evidence.

InterestModerate interest

Posts are somewhat engaged, as they reference specific studies, meta-analyses, and expert opinions, showing curiosity but not overwhelming enthusiasm.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants demonstrate moderate engagement by discussing methodology concerns, interpreting findings, and contrasting their views, rather than deeply analyzing or challenging the research.

ImpactModerate impact

The overall perception is that the publication's results are noteworthy but not transformative; the discussions reflect the ongoing debate rather than a consensus on impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The review explores whether using digital screens increases the risk of developing or worsening myopia in children, but the findings are mixed, with some studies showing a connection and others not.
  • Fifteen studies involving almost 50,000 children were analyzed, and while recent research tends to suggest more screen time may be linked to myopia, a meta-analysis of five studies indicated no significant overall association.
  • The conclusion emphasizes that more precise and objective measurements of screen time are needed in future research to better understand its impact on myopia risk.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
TheLiverDoc™
@theliverdr · X

Just bcoz U hav access to keyboard and have finger coordination doesnt mean U can type whatever nonsense U want Statins "high dose" causing diabetes only "observational" metanalysis https://t.co/EEdjxLNfxg No strong evidence of screen time causing myopia https://t.co/KvNgWRrjH0 https://t.co/NQpm89BKYU

Jul 18, 2021 · 30 likes · 5 shares · 314,747 followers View post →
Bil Kirmani
@drkirmani · X

I was reading a meta-analysis about how screentime can cause myopia. The studies relied on self-reporting instead of quantified measures, raising serious doubts about data veracity. I can’t help but feel the study designs were a bit… shortsighted. https://t.co/Ik1DYWMcDr

Jul 22, 2021 · 11 likes · 1,999 followers View post →
Myopia Updates
@MyopiaUpdates · X

Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progression, evidence suggests otherwise and is inconclusive at the very least. For details, see: https://t.co/eeLE5SfRct

Jan 20, 2020 · 7 likes · 5 shares · 55 followers View post →
Mahesh R Joshi || PhD ||
@mrj_vision · X

Despite wide held belief, No conclusive association between Myopia and Digital screen time !!! https://t.co/t6kSSFjfFZ

Jan 20, 2020 · 6 likes · 2 shares · 173 followers View post →
Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE
@Danielhm2020 · X

Excellent systematic review investigating the association between screen time and myopia:- “The results for screen time and myopia are mixed. Further studies with objective screen time measurements are necessary to assess evidence of an association.”https://t.co/2jt7eIa7Dy

Jan 20, 2020 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 2,117 followers View post →
Nick Schindler
@DrNickTwit · X

@I_am_spottacus Does it though? I think the evidence is mixed. https://t.co/883t0T6Ufr

Aug 20, 2021 · 2 likes · 8,801 followers View post →

All mentions

Héctor Ruiz Martín
@hruizmartin · X

@albert_sabater @therfer Lanca, C., i Saw, S. M. (2020). The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 40(2), 216-229. ⬇️

Jun 25, 2025 · 1 like · 57,003 followers View post →
x_queenkittycat
@x_queenkittycat · X

@manibaee444 It’s very bad for their vision. The more screen time they have the more likely they are to get myopia https://t.co/6h3DXtKwVY

Dec 17, 2024 · 262 followers View post →
Vinlaa
@Vinlaa_Sol · X

@albin_kc @TobScy @mbateman Blue light may not be the cause, just a theory, but myopia is definitely linked to increased screen use https://t.co/ZR7JyZRwhk Pubmed is a verifiable source

Aug 15, 2024 · 1,282 followers View post →
I am Groot
@EthicalGroot · X

@williamdoylenyc @Screensandkids @pasi_sahlberg Summary: The results for screen time and myopia are mixed. Further studies with objective screen time measurements are necessary to assess evidence of an association between screen time and myopia. https://t.co/l9VICvlJLq

May 12, 2023 · 1 like · 83 followers View post →
Shibu Varkey
@ShibuVarkey_dr · X

Recent studies have shown the clear link bet screen time and progression of short sightedness Lanca C, Saw SM. The assoc bet digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review. Ophthal Physiol Opt. 2020 Mar;40(2):216-229. doi: 10.1111/opo.12657. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 31943280

Mar 3, 2023 · 2 likes · 3,974 followers View post →
Skeptical Centrist
@SkepticalCent · X

@DrillZim @Supreme_Owl_FTW @BretWeinstein @waitbutwhy Like most things that are multifactorial it can be difficult to isolate. This is why a systemic review like this might show mixed results. Again all im saying is its plausible that we'd look back in 50 years and see it differently with new info. https://t.co/AqGVik3fUU

Oct 14, 2022 · 286 followers View post →
Nick Schindler
@DrNickTwit · X

@I_am_spottacus Does it though? I think the evidence is mixed. https://t.co/883t0T6Ufr

Aug 20, 2021 · 2 likes · 8,801 followers View post →
Steve Raven Documenting
@DrSteveRaven · X

@BBCBreakfast the evidence on short-sightedness is not as clear as your article today suggests. https://t.co/8IB2kymMd3

Aug 20, 2021 · 292 followers View post →
yann leroux
@yannleroux · X

@JBosseray @maeool Affirmer une relation directe me semble exagéré. Disons que dans certaines conditions pour certaines personnes certaines utilisations des écrans peuvent être liées à la myopie https://t.co/P4YpgbQZE8

Jul 27, 2021 · 12,955 followers View post →
Bil Kirmani
@drkirmani · X

I was reading a meta-analysis about how screentime can cause myopia. The studies relied on self-reporting instead of quantified measures, raising serious doubts about data veracity. I can’t help but feel the study designs were a bit… shortsighted. https://t.co/Ik1DYWMcDr

Jul 22, 2021 · 11 likes · 1,999 followers View post →
Radheshyam M. Mallah
@RadheshyamMMal1 · X

RT @drabbyphilips: Just bcoz U hav access to keyboard and have finger coordination doesnt mean U can type whatever nonsense U want Statins…

Jul 18, 2021 · 5 shares · 496 followers View post →
Katara Nomi Korra Nands Kali
@softwarmechanic · X

RT @drabbyphilips: Just bcoz U hav access to keyboard and have finger coordination doesnt mean U can type whatever nonsense U want Statins…

Jul 18, 2021 · 5 shares · 279 followers View post →
Sarah Jose(Susan)
@vaalsalya · X

RT @drabbyphilips: Just bcoz U hav access to keyboard and have finger coordination doesnt mean U can type whatever nonsense U want Statins…

Jul 18, 2021 · 5 shares · 289 followers View post →
Melon Musk
@AgentDesiBond · X

RT @drabbyphilips: Just bcoz U hav access to keyboard and have finger coordination doesnt mean U can type whatever nonsense U want Statins…

Jul 18, 2021 · 5 shares · 437 followers View post →
TheLiverDoc™
@theliverdr · X

Just bcoz U hav access to keyboard and have finger coordination doesnt mean U can type whatever nonsense U want Statins "high dose" causing diabetes only "observational" metanalysis https://t.co/EEdjxLNfxg No strong evidence of screen time causing myopia https://t.co/KvNgWRrjH0 https://t.co/NQpm89BKYU

Jul 18, 2021 · 30 likes · 5 shares · 314,747 followers View post →
Beth Rabbitt (she/her, Dr.)
@BethRabbitt · X

Say *potential* on screen time, b/c younger students were only assigned ~1 hr of screen-based school/day. Older students had > assigned time but no sig > prevalence of myopia. This jives w/ mixed/null research findings on #screentime & myopia (https://t.co/EIRRrVMOnc

Jan 25, 2021 · 2,782 followers View post →
SystematicReviewBot
@EvidenceRobot · X

RT @SBYIR: The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review https://t.co/DVCiNTmPxJ

Oct 23, 2020 · 1 share · 6,706 followers View post →
SBYIR
@SBYIR · X

The association between digital screen time and myopia: A systematic review https://t.co/DVCiNTmPxJ

Oct 23, 2020 · 1 share · 82 followers View post →
Jen Russell
@JenRussell118 · X

@harry___yang @M74108556 @Atul_Gawande @paulg News to me. This review found mixed evidence of an association between screen time & myopia. Also, "high prevalence of myopia in East Asian cities is due to several risk factors, including ... education, increased near work and less time spent outdoors." https://t.co/dZ968t78YL

Sep 20, 2020 · 154 followers View post →
د.مانع الشهراني
@Alshahrani1986 · X

The Association Between Digital Screen Time and Myopia: A Systematic Review | comment: Mark A Bullimore MCOptom, PhD, FAAO https://t.co/7ENMH9hKlx عبر @practiceupdate

Jun 14, 2020 · 6,262 followers View post →
AEOPTOMETRISTAS
@aeoptometristas · X

Cambio en la altura corporal, la longitud axial y el estado de refracción durante un período de cuatro años en niños caucásicos y adultos jóvenes

May 19, 2020 · 6,382 followers View post →
Abdul
@Abdulszn · X

@Alaa3alm try this one https://t.co/QV98300Q3W

May 5, 2020 · 221 followers View post →
Abdul
@Abdulszn · X

@Alaa3alm https://t.co/RcQaOmyfDO “...suggests that screen time is not associated with prevalent and incident myopia in this group of five studies.”

May 5, 2020 · 221 followers View post →
AEOPTOMETRISTAS
@aeoptometristas · X

La asociación entre el tiempo de pantalla digital y la miopía: una revisión sistemática

Apr 29, 2020 · 6,382 followers View post →
Sarah Hughes
@QTVI_Sarah · X

RT @MyopiaUpdates: Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progressio…

Jan 21, 2020 · 5 shares · 665 followers View post →
Glen Sheader
@glensheader · X

RT @MyopiaUpdates: Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progressio…

Jan 21, 2020 · 5 shares · 1,661 followers View post →
Bhandari Khob Raj
@bhandarikraj · X

RT @MyopiaUpdates: Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progressio…

Jan 20, 2020 · 5 shares · 641 followers View post →
John Ravenscroft
@Johnny_Ravo · X

RT @MyopiaUpdates: Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progressio…

Jan 20, 2020 · 5 shares · 1,295 followers View post →
KATHRYN SAUNDERS
@PlusTwoFifty · X

RT @MyopiaUpdates: Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progressio…

Jan 20, 2020 · 5 shares · 711 followers View post →
Dr Deborah Armstrong
@darmstrong1812 · X

RT @mrj_vision: Despite wide held belief, No conclusive association between Myopia and Digital screen time !!! https://t.co/t6kSSFjfFZ

Jan 20, 2020 · 2 shares · 294 followers View post →
Mahesh R Joshi || PhD ||
@mrj_vision · X

Despite wide held belief, No conclusive association between Myopia and Digital screen time !!! https://t.co/t6kSSFjfFZ

Jan 20, 2020 · 6 likes · 2 shares · 173 followers View post →
Olivier Denève
@olivier_deneve · X

RT @Danielhm2020: Excellent systematic review investigating the association between screen time and myopia:- “The results for screen time a…

Jan 20, 2020 · 2 shares · 248 followers View post →
Myopia Updates
@MyopiaUpdates · X

Despite popular belief that extensive and prolonged use of digital devices cause myopia and contribute to its progression, evidence suggests otherwise and is inconclusive at the very least. For details, see: https://t.co/eeLE5SfRct

Jan 20, 2020 · 7 likes · 5 shares · 55 followers View post →
Dr Josie Forte
@justjosie · X

RT @Danielhm2020: Excellent systematic review investigating the association between screen time and myopia:- “The results for screen time a…

Jan 20, 2020 · 2 shares · 378 followers View post →
Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE
@Danielhm2020 · X

Excellent systematic review investigating the association between screen time and myopia:- “The results for screen time and myopia are mixed. Further studies with objective screen time measurements are necessary to assess evidence of an association.”https://t.co/2jt7eIa7Dy

Jan 20, 2020 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 2,117 followers View post →