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ABSTRACT
Smartphone use is increasingly common amongst students. Time spent using smartphones has increased compared to ordinary cellular phones. This study was carried out to determine the effect of smartphone use on tear quantity and tear stability amongst students of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. A prospective experimental study consisting of 300 participants made up of 174 males and 126 females within the age range of 16 to 25 years with mean age of 20.76 ± 3.00 years old was conducted. Participants were asked avoid the use of smartphone for 60 minutes then schirmer’s test and invasive tear break up time test were carried out and baseline values were obtained. Participants were then prompted to read an article on a smartphone for 60 minutes then schirmer’s test and invasive tear breakup time test were carried out after reading task had been performed. Analysing the data with the student’s paired t – test it showed that there was a statistically significant difference in tear quantity before and after smartphone use from RE: 17.08 ± 3.01mm to 14.71 ± 2.63mm; LE: 17.01 ± 2.63mm to 14.91 ± 2.47mm at a significant level of p < 0.01 and a statistically significant difference in tear stability before and after smartphone use from RE: 16.17 ± 2.90 secs to 14.26 ± 2.67secs; LE: 16.17 ± 2.74secs to 14.46 ± 2.67 secs at a significant level of p < 0.05. In conclusion, smartphone use brought about a decrease in tear quantity and tear stability amongst University of Benin students.
