Aim To estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) in university students and its relationship with sociodemographic and optical correction factors and exposure to video display terminal (VDT). Methods This cross‐sectional study included 244 Spanish university students who responded to an anamnesis, a VDT exposure questionnaire and the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS‐Q©). A descriptive analysis was performed and the prevalence of CVS was calculated. Logistic regression models were used to measure the association between CVS and the variables studied. Results The mean age was 20.7 years (SD = 2.1), 57% were women, 78.3% used VDTs ≥ 2 hours/day to study. The prevalence of CVS was 76.6%, and the most frequent symptoms were headache and itching. In the crude analysis, being a woman, using glasses daily and to study, and a longer VDT use to study and in total were associated with a higher prevalence of CVS; while in the older group, the prevalence was lower. In the multivariate model, VDT use to study was associated with a greater probability of CVS (aOR: 3.43; 95%CI: 1.03‐11.42), and being between 22 and 29 years was associated with a lower probability of it (aOR: 0.36; 95%CI: 0.15‐0.89). Conclusion CVS has a high prevalence amongst Spanish university students. The most affected are the younger ones and those who use VDTs for longer hours to study. It is essential to continue investigating the influence of the type of tasks conducted with VDTs on CVS and thus to establish the preventive measures to reduce this syndrome.