A correlational study between the degree of digital eye strain and total screen time among medical students

Jose Ronilo  G. Juangco,; Agnes  A. Alba,; Beatriz Renee  I. Rivera,; Angelico  M. Robles,; Trisha Joy Basille  A. Rodriguez,; Emilio Joaquim  B. Roxas,; Katrina Margarita  H. Saavedra,; Rian Gabrielle  A. Sablan,; Hanz Jefry  A. Saliendra,; Angelo  O. San Jose,

A correlational study between the degree of digital eye strain and total screen time among medical students

Discipline: medicine by specialism

Abstract:

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased reliance on digital devices for education, leading to heightened concerns about digital eye strain (DES) among students. This study aimed to investigate the association between screen time and the degree of DES among first to third-year medical students at a private medical school from August to September 2023. Methods An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, involving 194 participants who completed a self-administered questionnaire, including the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and relative risk calculations. Results The mean daily screen time was 6.94 hours, with 79.38% of participants reporting symptoms of digital eye strain. A significant association was found between screen time and DES, with a positive risk ratio of 1.304 for those spending 4-8 hours on screens compared to those with less than 4 hours. Conclusion This study highlights the growing prevalence of DES among medical students during the pandemic, emphasizing the need for educational institutions to implement strategies that mitigate screenrelated health risks. Recommendations include awareness programs, ergonomic guidelines and regular eye check-ups to promote ocular health.

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