Original Article Frequency of Computer Vision Syndrome in Computer Users Erum Shahid, Tasneem Burhany, Waseem Ahmed Siddique, Uzma Fasih, Arshad Shaikh Pak J Ophthalmol 2017, Vol. 33, No. 2 . .. .. See end of article for Purpose: To determinethe frequency of computer vision syndrome in computer authors affiliations users. Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study …..……………………….. Place and Duration of Study: Departmentof Ophthalmology, AbbasiShaheed Correspondence to: Hospital and Department of Community Medicine, Karachi Medical and Dental Erum Shahid College from May 2015 to October 2015. Senior Registrar, Ophthalmology, Material and Methods: Computer users who work on computers for 3 hours Abbasi Shaheed Hospital & KMDC continuously per day or more, working for last 1 year or more, ages between Emial: 18 to 50 years were included by simple random sampling [email protected] technique.Nonconsented subjects, diagnosed with neurological problems, diagnosed eye diseases and using any topical eye drops were excluded. Results: Total of 150 subjects were recruited in which 120 (80%) were males and 30 (20%) females. Their age range was between 18 to 50 years with mean age of 32.9 ± 10.3. Computer vision syndrome was present in 75% of them. Headache was the most common symptom. Conclusion: Computer vision syndrome is common in computer users of our community. Thesesymptoms can be avoided and relieved by simple modifications during computer use. Key Words: Computer vision syndrome, computer users, Headache, eye strain. …..……………………….. 108 Vol. 33, No. 2, Apr – Jun, 2017 Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology n this age of modern technology, the influence of started after approval from the Ethics Research computers on human lives cannot be denied. We committee of KMDC. Sample size calculatedwere 1329 I are in twenty-first century and computers are with help of WHO software with 5% margin of error, used globally as the humble pen and paper in many 95% confidence interval. We recruited 150 cases to people’s everyday life. The number of computers is avoid type 2 error. Sampling technique was simple increasing all the time. It has been assessed that there random sampling. are nearly six computers per thousand populations We included computer users who work on with an installation of 18 million personal computers computers for a minimum of 3 hours continuously per 1 (PCs) . Computer is a vital tool in every aspect of life. day or more, working on computers for last 1 year or Although these advances are good task performers but more, ages between 18 to 50 years. We excluded those they also affect health in terms of stress, postures, who werenon consented, diagnosed with neurological 2 health performance and productivity . problems, diagnosed eye diseases and using any An American Optometric association has topical eye drops. definedcomputer vision syndrome (CVS) as a complex Data was collected by the data collectors on a self- of eye and vision problems associated with the administered questionnaire in English language. These activities thatstrain the near vision. It is experienced in subjects were college students and employees of relation to or while using the computers for longer multinational companies, banks based on inclusion 3 durations .Digital electronic screens have become and exclusion criteria with their portable and can be used in any location. It is no consent.Incompletequestionnaires were not longer limited to desktop computers in the entertained. They were assured about the workstations. Currently visual necessities include not confidentiality and anonymity of the information only viewing laptops and tablet computers but also attained in the proforma. It included their other electronic gadgets like electronic book readers, demographic details along with history of any visual note books and smartphones.Furthermoreits use is not problems related to prolong use of computers. Data 4 restricted to adults only . Visual symptoms like eye was analyzed on statistical package for social sciences strain, headaches, ocular discomfort, diplopia, burning [SPSS] version 21. Descriptive statistics was used to sensation and blurred vision are experienced by 90% calculate mean and standard deviation. Frequencies of computer workers either when looking at near or were calculated of various symptoms along with the into the distance after continued and extended percentages. 5 computer use .This happens even if duration of use is more than 3 hours6. Symptoms of computer vision RESULTS syndrome occur in approximately 75% to 90% of In this study we had 120 (80%) males and 30 (20%) computer usersbutonly 22% of computer workers femalesout of a total of 150 computer users. Their age 7 report musculoskeletal disorders . It has been referred ranged between 18 to 50 years with mean age of 32.9 ± by some optometrist as a possible occupational 10.3. Frequencies of their demographics are shown in 1st 8 epidemic of the 21 century . table 1 like occupation, level of education, marital In our country little work has been done on this status, addiction, spectacles, contact lens, duration of subject and most of the work is published in nonmedical journals with their focus on ergonomics of work places. This study will be an initiative to create Table 1: Demographics of Subjects. awareness among doctors and support future Variables No. % prevention of computer vision syndrome to help computer workers. Mean Age 32.9± 10.3 Min 18 MATERIALS AND METHODS Max 50 This study was conducted in the department of Gender Ophthalmology, AbbasiShaheed Hospital, Karachiand Males 120 80 % department of community medicine, Karachi Medical Females 30 20 % and DentalCollege (KMDC). It was aprospectiveand a Occupation cross sectional descriptive study which was started in Student 32 21% May 2015 and completed in October 2015. It was Service/Employee 118 79% 109 Vol. 33, No. 2, Apr – Jun, 2017 Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology ERUM SHAHID, et al Marital Status Headache 69 46% Married 89 59.3 % Unmarried 61 40.7 % Tired Eyes 67 45% Level of Education Neck Pain 62 41% Secondary 23 15 % Graduates 72 48 % Burning Eyes 43 29% Postgraduates 55 37 % Addiction Blurring Vision 36 24% Smokers 25 17% Watering Eyes 35 23% Nonsmokers 125 83% Spectacles Yes 82 55% DISCUSSION No 67 45% In our study we had total of 150 respondents who Contact Lenses filled the questionnaire. Majority of the respondents Yes 10 7% were males (80%), since the data was randomly No 140 93% collected from different offices and colleges. In offices Exercise of thismetropolitancitymost of the workers are still Yes 40 27 % males due to cultural trends of our society. Toama No 110 73% et al., in their study stated that the percentage of Working Stress females with CVS was more as compared to Yes 98 65% males10.Since we have few females our data does not No 52 35% support positive association of CVS with female Duration of Sleep gender. In our study office workers were 79% and Less than 8 Hrs 112 75% remaining 21% were students. Mean ages of the More Than 8 Hrs 38 25% subjects was 32.9 ±10.3 due to less number of students. Hypertension Our study reported computer vision syndrome to be Yes 28 19% 75%. Another study conducted in Islamabad reported No 121 81% CVS in only 25% of office workers and students 9. Duration of Increase in frequency of CVS in our study could be Computer Use due to more office workers than students and with 3-4 Hrs 28 19% increase in mean age of subjects.One of the study 4-6 Hrs 34 22% conducted in Malaysia revealed CVS to be 63%11but >6 Hrs 88 59% another study12from Nepal revealed CVS in 89.9%. CVS 113 75% The former one included office workers but the latter sleep and duration of computer use etc. with their one included children less than 10 years of age with percentages. Frequency of computer vision syndrome large sample size.Prevalence of CVS was 69.3% in 13 (CVS) calculated was 75%. university students of Chennai and 75% reported by Madhan14. The incidence of CVS vary from place to Table 2 shows frequencies of various symptoms place but the point on which every study agrees isthat like headache, tired eyes, watering of eyes, redness of longer a person works with the computer, the more eyes, blurred vision, and neck pain in subjects visual discomfort complaints he experiences9-14. suffering from computer vision syndrome. Most common symptom was headache i.e. in 69 (46%) of Asthenopic symptoms noted by Sheedy et 5 subjects, it was followed by tired eyes in 67 (45%) of al comprised of eye strain,tiredness of eyes, the subjects. Least common symptom was watering of discomfort, burning, irritation, pain, aching, soreness eyes (23%). of eyes, diplopia, photophobia, blurring, itching, watering, drynessand foreign body sensation.However they can be broadly divided into Table 2: Frequencies of CVS Symptoms. two groups15. First group called external symptoms are related to dry eyes and they consist of irritation, Symptoms No. % burning, watering and dryness of eyes. The second group termed internal symptoms are due to refractive, 110 Vol. 33, No. 2, Apr – Jun, 2017 Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology FREQUENCY OF COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME IN COMPUTER USERS vergence and accommodative anomalies. It comprised but temporary discomfort reduces the efficiency of of eye strain, eye ache, headache, diplopia and work and thereby productivity23. blurring of vision. Asthenopic symptoms were Limitation of the study is its sample size. common in our subjects which were tired eyes (45%), Additional information could have been retrieved if 16 burning (29%) and watering (23%) Sen et al equal number of males, females and students, office documented 87% with eye fatigue, 55% of subjects workers were considered. Other studies should be with burning sensation and 46% with redness in their carried out regarding ocular examinations of people 11 17 eyes .