Knowledge, Attitude and practice of Computer Vision Syndrome among medical students and its impact on ocular morbidity

Abstract

Background: Computer vision syndrome is a common global problem among millions of computer users including medical students. Medical students are preferring soft copies rather than textbooks. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of MBBS students about Computer vision syndrome, and to identify its ocular morbidity among them.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey based on the questionnaire was conducted among 1st- 4th year MBBS students of the Institute of Medicine and 80 students underwent detailed ocular evaluation. Results: A complete survey response was received from 236 students out of 299 students (Response Rate 80%). The mean age of MBBS students was 21.38 years ± 1.328 years and the range were 19-22 years; 76.2% were male and 23.8% were female. The majority (37.2%) spent 2-3 hours/day on the computer and had a higher risk (p-0.0001) of developing Computer vision syndrome. About 69.5% students used a computer at the level of the eye but there was a significant reduction in Computer vision syndrome (p-0.0001) among those who had computer screen below the eye level. Association between taking breaks (p-0.0001) and frequent blinking (p-0.0411) during computer use and relief of symptoms was significant. Only 22.9% had pre-existing knowledge of Computer vision syndrome and only 25.5% of them were practicing the ideal viewing distance.Among 80 medical students randomly selected for detail eye examinations (63.7% male;36.2% female), the prevalence of Computer vision syndrome was 71.6%. The commonest ocular complaint was a headache (50%) and dry eyes (45%). Myopia was the commonest refractive error (31.2%) and the orthoptic problem was prevalent among 17.5% students.Conclusions: The survey showed that Computer vision syndrome is relevant among MBBS students but the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Computer vision syndrome among them is poor.Keywords: Attitude; computer vision syndrome; eyestrain; headache; knowledge; practice; medical students.

Accommodative and binocular disorders in preteens with computer vision syndrome: a cross‐sectional study

“…The second basis was ergonomics according to Mowatt et al, 27 who conducted a study involving university students with CVS from the use of the computer and handheld devices, and determined that 75.1% of students had neck pain, and according to other authors, who concluded the same regarding both headache and neck pain from the use of the computer, mobile phone, and laptops. 26,28,29 These results were consistent with the results of our study in which subjects in the severe CVS group reported greater severity of these symptoms. The third basis was visual symptomatology according to Antona et al, 30 who conducted a study involving 54 subjects using smartphone with visual difficul-ties and determined that all scores were more unfavorable in subjects who used digital devices, and according to other authors, who conducted studies on high school students using mobile phones and laptops and determined that the percentages of these symptoms increased as the hours of digital device use increased.…”

Digital Eye Strain and Its Risk Factors Among a University Student Population in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Reports on university students from other parts of the world show a generally high prevalence, despite being lower than most of the studies available from the Middle East. A prevalence rate of 71.6% was reported among medical students in Nepal [ 14 ], while 80.3% of students in India majoring in medicine and engineering suffer from CVS [ 3 ]. The prevalence of CVS in the current sample could be one of the highest recorded among this age group.…”

Computer Vision Syndrome During SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak in University Students: A Comparison Between Online Courses and Classroom Lectures

“…The score of the digital eye strain was also found to be the highest among those who had a longer screen time, shorter screen distance and took infrequent breaks ( 4 ). In fact, university students have been documented to develop computer vision syndrome potentially due to the study burden and heavy use of digital devices, with a reported high prevalence of 71.6-94.5% ( 5 , 6 ). To our best knowledge, our study is the first to provide data regarding the impact of online learning during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.…”

“…Due to the lockdown policy of COVID-19, foreign students took all lectures online while Chinese students have returned to the university and took lectures in classrooms. Assuming an 80% predictive prevalence ( 5 , 6 ), a 95% confidence, a 10% margin of error and a 75% response rate, we calculated the sampling size of 82 to be representative of the total population.…”