Association Between Smartphone Addiction and Near Binocular Vision Function Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: Currently, the use of smartphones, video games, and the widespread use of digital screens throughout the day have led to a new clinical syndrome named "digital eye strain". Few studies have examined problematic smartphone use, unlike screen-time duration, in relation to near binocular vision parameters. This study aimed to explore the association between near binocular vision and problematic smartphone use, using the smartphone addiction scale. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 134 University students aged between 18 and 25 years. The validated smartphone addiction scale questionnaire was administered together with optometric measurements such as amplitude of accommodation, near phoria, and stereoacuity, near point of convergence, and a questionnaire on convergence insufficiency symptoms. RESULTS: The analysis showed a significant relationship between the smartphone addiction scale and the near point of convergence (r=-0.176, p< 0.05), amplitude of accommodation (r=0.191, p< 0.05), and symptoms of convergence insufficiency (r=0.238, p< 0.01). Moreover, the study shows a significant gender difference in the smartphone addiction scale, with females reporting lower scores than males; 70.9% of the male participants were considered smartphone addicted, while 55.5% of the female participants were smartphone addicted (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Convergence insufficiency symptom burden in young adults is associated with problematic smartphone use. Binocular vision anomalies could potentially be relevant beyond visual comfort.