Poor Uncorrected Visual Acuity and Association With Sleep Duration and Screen Time: A Dose–Response Relationship Study

Abstract

Background We aimed to investigate the prevalence of poor uncorrected visual acuity and the difference among students with different ages and residential areas in the Northeast of China. The relationships between screen time, nighttime sleep duration, and poor uncorrected visual acuity would be explored. Methods It was a cross-sectional study using multi-stage stratified random sampling method to recruit participants. 2149 students have completed questionnaires and underwent visual acuity examinations. The dose–response curve method was applied to examine the non-linear associations between sleep duration and poor uncorrected visual acuity under different screen time subgroups. Results The overall prevalence of poor uncorrected visual acuity and severe poor uncorrected visual acuity was 84.7% and 63.3%, respectively. The dose–response curve showed the odds ratios (ORs) of sleep duration for the poor uncorrected visual increased relatively slowly when screen time <1 hour, then increased dramatically in screen time ≥1 hours. The ORs of sleep time and poor uncorrected visual acuity showed a U-shaped change trend among students with 2 or more hours of screen time every day. Conclusion We found associations between nighttime sleep duration and poor uncorrected visual acuity in adolescents. However, these associations were not consistent across all screen time categories.