Effect of Integrated Ocular Exercise Program on Selected Visual Impairments Among Chronic Smartphone Users

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of an integrated ocular exercise program on the three selected visual impairments. The study was conducted among 100 individuals, 67 of them were females and 33 were males between the age group 18-35 years with visual impairments who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two groups were formed both following the conventional treatment of an ophthalmologist, with the experimental group added with an integrated ocular exercise program for four weeks. The Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) score for the dry eye level of group A was 14.6 + 3.785, and the values for group B were 16.58 + 3.351 (P <0.0001). The visual acuity post-intervention in the treatment group was 29.1+ 15.57 and the control group was 32.5 + 15.625, which shows much difference (P=<0.001). According to Snallen’s chart, there was a much significant difference between the pre-post visual eye fatigue questionnaire (P=0.001). The results showed that at the end of the 4 weeks, the designed exercise program along with the conventional method proved beneficial for the patients with selected visual impairments. An unpaired t-test was used for comparing two separate groups. The chi-square test was used for calculating binary variables and effect size. According to the results of our study, the Integrated ocular exercise program was useful among chronic smartphone users for reducing their eye discomforts like eye fatigue, dry eyes, and visual acuity. In conclusion, the Experimental group shows more improvement in the post-intervention than the control group.