Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is an increasingly recognized ocular surface disorder, particularly among young adults due to rising digital device usage. Prolonged screen exposure has been implicated as a major risk factor affecting tear film stability and ocular comfort. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of dry eye disease and its association with screen time among young adults attending a tertiary care hospital in South India. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from Feb 2020 to December 2020 among 210 participants aged 18–35 years. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, including the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) for symptom assessment. Clinical evaluation was performed using tear film break-up time and Schirmer’s test. Screen time was categorized into <2 hours, 2–4 hours, and >4 hours per day. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.0, and associations were assessed using the Chi-square test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of dry eye disease was 37.1%. Nearly half of the participants reported screen time exceeding 4 hours per day. A significant association was observed between increased screen time and dry eye disease (p<0.001), with the highest prevalence among individuals with screen exposure greater than 4 hours daily. Occupation was also significantly associated with dry eye disease (p=0.045), with students being more affected. No significant association was found with gender. Conclusion: Dry eye disease is prevalent among young adults and is significantly associated with prolonged screen time. Preventive strategies focusing on reducing screen exposure and promoting healthy visual habits are essential to address this growing public health concern.

Dry eye disease; screen time; young adults; OSDI; digital eye strain; ocular surface; cross-sectional study