Examining The Correlation Between Screen Time, Mental Health, and Dry Eye Syndrome Among Undergraduate Students at KAHS

Abstract

Background: Prolonged screen time among university students has been linked to dry eye syndrome (DES) and mental health challenges. This study examined the correlations between screen time, depression, and DES among undergraduate students at the Kuliyyah of Allied Health Sciences (KAHS), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 90 students (aged 19–24 years). Validated tools—the Screen Time Questionnaire (STQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Dry Eye-related Quality of Life Score (DEQS)—were used to assess screen time, depressive symptoms, and DES impact, respectively. Inclusion criteria ensured participants had normal or corrected-to-normal vision (6/6 or better) and no history of refractive surgery. Results: The median daily screen time was 4.22 hours (Q1 = 3.37, Q3 = 5.08). Dry eye symptoms were prevalent, with a moderate impact on quality of life as indicated by the median DEQS score of 20.84 (Q1 = 6.47, Q3 = 35.22). Depressive symptoms were also common, with a median PHQ-9 score of 6.00 (Q1 = 3.38, Q3 = 8.63). A strong positive correlation was observed between depression (PHQ-9) and dry eye symptoms (DEQS) (r = 0.508, p < 0.001), while screen time (STQ) showed no significant correlation with either depression (r = 0.116, p = 0.276) or dry eye symptoms (r = 0.182, p = 0.085). Conclusion: Depression was strongly associated with DES severity, but screen time did not significantly correlate with either outcome. These findings highlight the importance of addressing mental health in DES management among students. Future research should explore longitudinal relationships and confounding factors (e.g., sleep quality, screen-use behaviors).