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

Carla Lanca, Seang-Mei Saw

March 2020 Ophthalmic Physiol Opt

Synopsis of Social media discussions

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.

A
Agreement
 Neither 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.

I
Interest
 Moderate level of interest

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

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

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

I
Impact
 Moderate level of 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.

Social Mentions

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4 Videos

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2 Posts

Twitter

35 Posts

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2 Articles

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47 Articles

Metrics

Video Views

82,533

Total Likes

375

Extended Reach

523,281

Social Features

90

Timeline: Posts about article

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  • Héctor Ruiz Martín
    @hruizmartin (Twitter)

    @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. ⬇️
    view full post

    June 25, 2025

    1


  • @x_queenkittycat (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    December 17, 2024

  • Vinlaa
    @Vinlaa_Sol (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    August 15, 2024

  • I am Groot
    @EthicalGroot (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    May 12, 2023

    1

  • Shibu Varkey
    @ShibuVarkey_dr (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    March 3, 2023

    2

  • Skeptical Centrist
    @SkepticalCent (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    October 14, 2022

  • Nick Schindler
    @DrNickTwit (Twitter)

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

    August 20, 2021

    2

  • Steve Raven Documenting
    @DrSteveRaven (Twitter)

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

    August 20, 2021

  • yann leroux
    @yannleroux (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    July 27, 2021

  • Bil Kirmani
    @drkirmani (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    July 22, 2021

    11

  • Radheshyam M. Mallah
    @RadheshyamMMal1 (Twitter)

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

    July 18, 2021

    5

  • Katara Nomi Korra Nands Kali
    @softwarmechanic (Twitter)

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

    July 18, 2021

    5

  • Sarah Jose(Susan)
    @vaalsalya (Twitter)

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

    July 18, 2021

    5

  • Melon Musk
    @AgentDesiBond (Twitter)

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

    July 18, 2021

    5

  • TheLiverDoc™
    @theliverdr (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    July 18, 2021

    30

    5

  • Beth Rabbitt (she/her, Dr.)
    @BethRabbitt (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    January 25, 2021

  • SystematicReviewBot
    @EvidenceRobot (Twitter)

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

    October 23, 2020

    1

  • SBYIR
    @SBYIR (Twitter)

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

    October 23, 2020

    1

  • Jen Russell
    @JenRussell118 (Twitter)

    @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
    view full post

    September 20, 2020

  • د.مانع الشهراني
    @Alshahrani1986 (Twitter)

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

    June 14, 2020

  • AEOPTOMETRISTAS
    @aeoptometristas (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    May 19, 2020

  • Abdul
    @Abdulszn (Twitter)

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

    May 5, 2020

  • Abdul
    @Abdulszn (Twitter)

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

    May 5, 2020

  • AEOPTOMETRISTAS
    @aeoptometristas (Twitter)

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

    April 29, 2020

  • Sarah Hughes
    @QTVI_Sarah (Twitter)

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

    January 21, 2020

    5

  • Glen Sheader
    @glensheader (Twitter)

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

    January 21, 2020

    5

  • Bhandari Khob Raj
    @bhandarikraj (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    5

  • John Ravenscroft
    @Johnny_Ravo (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    5

  • KATHRYN SAUNDERS
    @PlusTwoFifty (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    5

  • Dr Deborah Armstrong
    @darmstrong1812 (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    2

  • Mahesh R Joshi || PhD ||
    @mrj_vision (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    6

    2

  • Olivier Denève
    @olivier_deneve (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    2

  • Myopia Updates
    @MyopiaUpdates (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    January 20, 2020

    7

    5

  • Dr Josie Forte
    @justjosie (Twitter)

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

    January 20, 2020

    2

  • Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE
    @Danielhm2020 (Twitter)

    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
    view full post

    January 20, 2020

    5

    2

Abstract Synopsis

  • 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.]