Digital Eye Strain among undergraduate medical students at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

ABSTRACT

Background / Introduction: The novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) has affected the world entirely. The government of Saudi Arabia adopted varieties of measures to mitigate the spread of the novel virus;one of the measures taken was to close all schools and universities across the kingdom and promoting online education. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of digital eye strain, the associated risk factors and the most prevalent associated symptoms among under graduated medical students at Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. Objective(s) to study the prevalence of digital eye strain among undergraduate students in the college of medicine, and to identify the risk factors associated with digital eye strain, and to identify the preventive measures taken to avoid eye strain symptoms related to digital device use. Methodology: Observational descriptive study (Cross-sectional study) to evaluate Digital Eye Strain among undergraduate students in the college of medicine at Majmaah University, to determine the prevalence of DES, associated risk factors, and measures taken to relieve the symptoms. Data will be analyzed by researchers using SPSS version 20. Result(s) Our study showed that digital eye strain was positively associated in female gender more than male, also it was positively associated in people who have preexisting eye conditions like myopia. Regarding the incidence of digital eyestrain with the intensity, it has been shown that most of our participants had mild strain eyestrain (41%). Moreover, it was observed that headache was the most common complaints by our participants. Using the digital devices for more than 4 h/day, and takings a breaks during using the devices in frequency 60 minutes or more and not using antiglare screen were significant risk factors linked to sys strain symptoms (P<0.001, P=0.02, P=0.04) respectively .In regard the preventive measure taking to reduce the digital eye strain our study found that there was no significant association between practicing the rule of 20-20-20 and the prevalence of digital eye strain among participant using eye drops was significantly associated with low incidence of digital eye strain (P=0.01). Conclusion(s) In conclusion, digital eye strain is an emergent public health problem that is proportional to the duration of exposure to digital screens. It has also been associated with multiple digital devices among medical students most commonly iPads. Digital devices are mandatory in every institution and prevention of digital eye strains with the consequences must be included in the curriculum. Copyright © 2022 Ubiquity Press. All rights reserved.