Smartphone use by children has become ubiquitous. Studies conducted in adults show that smartphone viewing adversely affects the ocular surface, causing discomfort, eye strain, sore eyes, and dry eyes, and altered tear film function and blinking. The ocular surface in children may be at risk of cumulative dry eye disease. This study conducted by researchers at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW, examined the effect of one hour of smartphone use on blinking, symptoms, and tear film indices in school-aged children. Smartphone gaming in children resulted in dry eye symptoms and immediate and sustained slowing of blinking, with no change in tear function evident up to one hour. Published online by SOVS PhD student Ngozi Chidi-Egboka and her supervisors Associate Professors Isabelle Jalbert and Blanka Golebiowski. https://rdcu.be/cO4d1, opens in a new window