R. UKHUEDOBAH

This study examined Parental Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward Digital Eye Strain (DES) in Children in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State. Digital eye strain, has become a growing concern due to increased screen exposure among children for both educational and recreational purposes. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, and data were collected from 387 parents or primary caregivers of children aged 5 to 15 years using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The results revealed that most parents (70.5%) were aware of digital eye strain, and 87.9% believed that excessive screen time could harm children’s eyes. The majority demonstrated good awareness of preventive measures such as maintaining correct sitting posture (86.6%), proper viewing distance (87.9%), and regular breaks during device use (83.7%). However, awareness and utilization of antiglare screens were relatively low (52.5%). Smartphones were the most frequently used devices (61.0%), and over half of the children (58.9%) spent between 3 to 6 hours daily on screens. Commonly reported symptoms among children included eye itching (18.1%), redness (12.1%), and fatigue (14.5%). While 42.4% of parents sought professional care when symptoms occurred, 18.6% relied on home remedies. Overall, the study concludes that although parental awareness of DES is high, consistent implementation of preventive practices remains inadequate. It recommends increased public health education, periodic pediatric eye examinations, school-based interventions, and policy- driven community awareness programs to enhance preventive behavior among parents and caregivers

Caffeine is a widely consumed stimulant known to affect both visual and systemic physiology through activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This study investigated the short-term effects of caffeine consumption on amplitude of accommodation (AA), near point of convergence (NPC), pupil size, and blood pressure (BP). Forty healthy participants aged 18–30 years were recruited and assessed at baseline, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes following ingestion of a caffeine-containing beverage (160 mg/500 mL). Standard clinical procedures were used: the push-up to blur technique for AA, RAF rule for NPC, pupillary distance ruler
for pupil diameter, and sphygmomanometer for BP. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Repeated Measures ANOVA tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results revealed a significant increase in amplitude of accommodation (p < 0.001), indicating enhanced focusing ability, while near point of convergence slightly receded, suggesting a temporary reduction in binocular efficiency. Pupil size increased, peaking at 90 minutes, and systolic blood pressure rose steadily across all time points (p < 0.001). In conclusion, caffeine exerts short-term, measurable effects on both ocular and cardiovascular functions. These
findings underscore the influence of caffeine-induced sympathetic stimulation on visual performance and systemic physiology, emphasizing the need to consider recent caffeine intake during clinical evaluations.