Computer Vision Syndrome: Is It a Silent Epidemic?

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome and evaluate the effects of interventions applied to computer users in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: In our study, 102 eyes of 51 people (non-medicos) with desk job using computers/mobile were taken as the study group. The Schirmer test, tear breakup time (TBUT) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were evaluated. Accordingly, they were given treatment and followed up. Results: In our study, we included 51 subjects who were a regular user of mobile and computers. Mean screen time was 6.08 ± 1.5 hours. Before treatment, the mean Schirmer’s, TBUT and OSDI test were 8.85 ± 1.2 mm (range 5.5–11.5 mm), 7.64 ± 2.4 seconds (range 4.0–12.5 seconds) and 30.47 ± 13.1 (range 10.40–62.50), respectively. The prevalence of dry eye was 58%, according to OSDI severity grading. After treatment, the Schirmer1, TBUT and OSDI tests showed improvement and the results were highly significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: It is important to optimize the exposure time and improve awareness among users. Its high time now, every institution should come up with a few guidelines in concern with the high screen time of the desk job worker.