Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Amani M AlQarni,1 Assim M AlAbdulKader,1 Asma N Alghamdi,2 Jumana Altayeb,2 Raghad Jabaan,2 Lujain Assaf,3 Rawan A Alanazi1 1Family and Community Medicine Department, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Medical Intern, Imam Abdulrahman...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Clinical Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/prevalence-of-digital-eye-strain-among-university-students-and-its-ass-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTH |
| _version_ | 1797789337618743296 |
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| author | AlQarni AM AlAbdulKader AM Alghamdi AN Altayeb J Jabaan R Assaf L Alanazi RA |
| author_facet | AlQarni AM AlAbdulKader AM Alghamdi AN Altayeb J Jabaan R Assaf L Alanazi RA |
| author_sort | AlQarni AM |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amani M AlQarni,1 Assim M AlAbdulKader,1 Asma N Alghamdi,2 Jumana Altayeb,2 Raghad Jabaan,2 Lujain Assaf,3 Rawan A Alanazi1 1Family and Community Medicine Department, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Medical Intern, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 3Epidemiology Senior Specialist, Clinical Leadership, Center for National Health Insurance, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rawan A Alanazi, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 77134, Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966556999190, Email Raalanazi@iau.edu.saIntroduction: The prolonged use of digital devices is a major risk factor for digital eye strain (DES) syndrome.Aim: To estimate the prevalence of DES symptoms among students at Imam Abdulrahman University who use digital devices for virtual learning and leisure activities.Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted by asking medical students of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University to complete a self-administered online questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to determine the effect of the hours spent on digital devices and other factors, such as screen distance and not using artificial tears, on the development of DES. The severity (moderate or severe) and frequency (occasionally, always, or never) of 16 eye strain-related symptoms, including eye pain, headache, and itching, were evaluated by using the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire.Results: The overall prevalence of DES in the sample was found to be 68.53%. The largest proportion of students were found to have mild DES (43.20%), and only 11% had severe DES. The most common symptoms reported in our sample were headache, dryness, and burning. Female gender, using smartphones for online classes, and not using eye lubricants were significantly associated with increased severity of DES.Conclusion: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual learning has become an integral part of education, leading to increased use of digital technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of virtual learning on eye strain and to determine the prevalence and effects of DES. A questionnaire was administered to participants, and the findings revealed a DES prevalence of 68.53%. The use of eye drops for lubrication and smartphones for classes was significantly associated with DES. Furthermore, females were found to be more susceptible to severe DES symptoms than males. The development of a tool such as the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire to predict DES prevalence could reduce clinic time and resources by minimizing unnecessary follow-up and ophthalmology referrals.Keywords: digital eye strain, digital devices, computer vision syndrome, virtual learning |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:49:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-24132cf258334b51b77cbdd2e62a83f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1177-5483 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:49:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-24132cf258334b51b77cbdd2e62a83f92023-07-02T19:49:18ZengDove Medical PressClinical Ophthalmology1177-54832023-06-01Volume 171755176884594Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 PandemicAlQarni AMAlAbdulKader AMAlghamdi ANAltayeb JJabaan RAssaf LAlanazi RAAmani M AlQarni,1 Assim M AlAbdulKader,1 Asma N Alghamdi,2 Jumana Altayeb,2 Raghad Jabaan,2 Lujain Assaf,3 Rawan A Alanazi1 1Family and Community Medicine Department, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Medical Intern, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 3Epidemiology Senior Specialist, Clinical Leadership, Center for National Health Insurance, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Rawan A Alanazi, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 77134, Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966556999190, Email Raalanazi@iau.edu.saIntroduction: The prolonged use of digital devices is a major risk factor for digital eye strain (DES) syndrome.Aim: To estimate the prevalence of DES symptoms among students at Imam Abdulrahman University who use digital devices for virtual learning and leisure activities.Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted by asking medical students of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University to complete a self-administered online questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to determine the effect of the hours spent on digital devices and other factors, such as screen distance and not using artificial tears, on the development of DES. The severity (moderate or severe) and frequency (occasionally, always, or never) of 16 eye strain-related symptoms, including eye pain, headache, and itching, were evaluated by using the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire.Results: The overall prevalence of DES in the sample was found to be 68.53%. The largest proportion of students were found to have mild DES (43.20%), and only 11% had severe DES. The most common symptoms reported in our sample were headache, dryness, and burning. Female gender, using smartphones for online classes, and not using eye lubricants were significantly associated with increased severity of DES.Conclusion: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual learning has become an integral part of education, leading to increased use of digital technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of virtual learning on eye strain and to determine the prevalence and effects of DES. A questionnaire was administered to participants, and the findings revealed a DES prevalence of 68.53%. The use of eye drops for lubrication and smartphones for classes was significantly associated with DES. Furthermore, females were found to be more susceptible to severe DES symptoms than males. The development of a tool such as the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire to predict DES prevalence could reduce clinic time and resources by minimizing unnecessary follow-up and ophthalmology referrals.Keywords: digital eye strain, digital devices, computer vision syndrome, virtual learninghttps://www.dovepress.com/prevalence-of-digital-eye-strain-among-university-students-and-its-ass-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTHdigital eye straindigital devicescomputer vision syndromevirtual learning. |
| spellingShingle | AlQarni AM AlAbdulKader AM Alghamdi AN Altayeb J Jabaan R Assaf L Alanazi RA Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Clinical Ophthalmology digital eye strain digital devices computer vision syndrome virtual learning. |
| title | Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain Among University Students and Its Association with Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | prevalence of digital eye strain among university students and its association with virtual learning during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | digital eye strain digital devices computer vision syndrome virtual learning. |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/prevalence-of-digital-eye-strain-among-university-students-and-its-ass-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTH |
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