title: The impact of computer use in myopia progression: a cohort study in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many subjects, especially highly educated subjects, are increasingly exposed to computer use. This exposure might represent an explanation for the growing rates of myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 17,217 Spanish university graduates from the SUN project, an open-recruitment cohort. Their mean age was 38.5 years (SD 12.1), and their mean time of exposure to computers was 14.3h/week (SD 14.6). We estimated multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the risk of myopia development and/or progression (≥0.5 diopters) according to baseline exposure to computer and to changes in exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age and sex-adjusted OR comparing >40 h/week of exposure versus<10h/week was 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-1.60). This association remained essentially unchanged after additional adjustments. Comparing participants who increased their exposure to computers, versus those with no change, the age and sex-adjusted OR was 1.49 (1.34-1.66). This result was unchanged after additional adjustments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge this is the first large longitudinal assessment in young adults, showing that exposure to computer use is associated with myopia development or progression in a cohort of Spanish university graduates. Further studies are needed to confirm these epidemiological findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: afmontero@unav.es.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Montero
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Olmo-Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olmo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bes-Rastrollo
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Service, Hospital Virgen del Camino, Servicio Navarro de Salud-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno-Galarraga
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno-Montañés
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez-González
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016288:Computer Terminals; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Computer use; Myopia; SUN project