Open AccessComputer vision syndrome and ergonomic practices among undergraduate university students
Author(s) -
Mowatt Lizette,
Gordon Carron,
Santosh Arvind Babu Rajendra,
Jones Thaon
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/ijcp.13035
Subject(s) - medicine , blurred vision , neck pain , ophthalmology , optometry , physical therapy , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary Aim To determine the prevalence of computer vision syndrome ( CVS ) and ergonomic practices among students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at The University of the West Indies ( UWI ), Jamaica. Method A cross‐sectional study was done with a self‐administered questionnaire. Results Four hundred and nine students participated; 78% were females. The mean age was 21.6 years. Neck pain (75.1%), eye strain (67%), shoulder pain (65.5%) and eye burn (61.9%) were the most common CVS symptoms. Dry eyes (26.2%), double vision (28.9%) and blurred vision (51.6%) were the least commonly experienced symptoms. Eye burning ( P = .001), eye strain ( P = .041) and neck pain ( P = .023) were significantly related to level of viewing. Moderate eye burning (55.1%) and double vision (56%) occurred in those who used handheld devices ( P = .001 and .007, respectively). Moderate blurred vision was reported in 52% who looked down at the device compared with 14.8% who held it at an angle. Severe eye strain occurred in 63% of those who looked down at a device compared with 21% who kept the device at eye level. Shoulder pain was not related to pattern of use. Conclusion Ocular symptoms and neck pain were less likely if the device was held just below eye level. There is a high prevalence of Symptoms of CVS amongst university students which could be reduced, in particular neck pain and eye strain and burning, with improved ergonomic practices.