Study of Internet Usage Patterns and Its Effects on Eyesight Health Among Undergraduate Students in Cross River State, South South Nigeria

Extended screen time associated with internet use is a growing public health concern among Nigerian university students, and understanding usage patterns and self-reported eyesight health effects in South South institutional contexts provides relevant data for digital wellness policy. This study examines internet usage patterns and their self-reported effects on eyesight health among undergraduate students at the University of Calabar, Cross River State. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 270 students selected through stratified random sampling across six faculties. Questionnaire items assessed daily internet usage hours, device type primarily used, content purposes (academic, social media, gaming), use of blue light filtering settings, frequency of digital eye strain symptoms (dryness, blurring, headache), and self-rated eye health change since university enrolment. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were computed in SPSS. Available digital health literature from South South Nigerian universities identifies more than six daily hours of screen exposure as the threshold associated with significant self-reported digital eye strain, with smartphone use at night without brightness adjustment particularly problematic. The Health Belief Model and Stimulus-Organism-Response Theory provide the analytical framework. Findings indicate that students using devices for more than seven hours daily were three times more likely to report weekly eye strain symptoms. Recommendations address digital wellness integration into university health services, screen-time management education, and institutional guidance on blue light filter technology use. Keywords: internet usage, digital eye strain, undergraduate students, University of Calabar, South South Nigeria.