Gadget use and visual acuity among school-age children in Tagbilaran city central elementary school: A correlational study

Objective: To determine the correlation between gadget use and visual acuity in school-age children. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional survey on 120 school-age children in Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School conducted from July 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019. A questionnaire was used to ask information regarding access to gadget and duration of gadget use. A visual acuity examination using the Snellen eye chart was performed by an optometrician. The results of the visual acuity examination were noted alongside the duration of gadget use. Results: Majority of the pupils use a gadget for 1 to 1.5 hours in a day; but 11.7% use a gadget longer than 4 hours. Majority of the pupils have emmetropia, 7.5% have myopia, and none have hyperopia. Correlation studies show that there is no association between duration of gadget use and visual acuity of school-age children (p=0.589, |r|=0.050). Conclusion: There is no correlation between gadget use and visual acuity of school-age children. The duration of gadget use has no impact on the development of visual defects in school-age children.