Digital eye strain among medical students associated with shifting to e-learning during COVID-19 pandemic: An online survey
Kavita R Bhatnagar, Shilpi G Dixit, Latika Pandey, Sujeet Prakash, Sakshi Shiromani, Kuldeep Singh- Ophthalmology
Purpose:
This study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, symptoms, and awareness of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among medical students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods:
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 283 undergraduate medical students at a tertiary healthcare center. An electronic survey was conducted to collect the data. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). The Chi-square test (Fisher’s exact test when required) was used to study the significance of associations. A
Results:
A high prevalence of CVS was observed in which 92% reported at least one symptom while using a digital device, the most frequent being eye strain (49%). Among extraocular complaints, joint pain in the wrist and fingers was most frequent. Significant association (
Conclusion:
CVS is a common health concern among medical students. Hence, to increase the productivity of work, significant risk factors need to be addressed and awareness must be raised.