To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye syndrome (DES) among adolescents based on the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.

A questionnaire survey was conducted on middle and high school students in Daejeon. DES was diagnosed by an OSDI score ≥ 13. According to the OSDI score, DES was classified as mild (13-22 points), moderate (23-32 points), or severe (33-100 points). Additionally, responses to the questions regarding adolescents' life behaviors including the duration of electronic device use per week (cellphone, computer, TV), study hours per day, sleeping hours per day, contact lenses use, glasses use, and humidifier use were analyzed to determine the associations with DES.

Of 332 students, DES was diagnosed in 147 (44.3%), and 54 (16.3%) complained of severe DES. The prevalence of DES was higher in female students ( p = 0.004), long-time electronic device users (divided on the basis of the mean value, 15.3 hours per week, p = 0.011), and contact lenses users ( p = 0.001). The prevalence of DES was 53.9% in groups with ≥ 14 hours of electronic device usage time per week, 40.2% in groups with ≥ 7 hours, and 33.7% in groups with < 7 hours ( p = 0.002). The duration of electronic device use per week was a significant risk factor of DES for male students, and contact lenses use was a significant risk factor of DES for female students ( p = 0.009).

The prevalence of DES was high among adolescents. Long-time electronic device usage and contact lenses wear were associated with DES and increased the risk of DES.