Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome among undergraduate medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A multi-university cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a group of eye and vision-related symptoms resulting from prolonged and extensive use of electronic devices. Such symptoms include blurry vision, dry eyes, watery eyes, headaches, fatigue, and neck pain. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of CVS and the frequency of exercising ergonomic practices among undergraduate medical students attending several medical colleges in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study surveyed 1,014 undergraduate medical students from several medical colleges in Riyadh. Data collection was held for four weeks throughout July-August 2021. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21. CVS-Q manual was implemented as the scoring system. Results: Out of the total surveyed medical students, 85.5% reported using electronic devices for educational purposes. Neck pains (42.5%), headaches (39.4%), and eye dryness (38.6%) were the most frequent symptoms. 60.8% of students were found CVS-positive. Male students were significantly less predicted to have CVS than female students (P<0.001). Brightness levels of screens correlated substantially with the risk of CVS (P=0.035) as more students who used bright backlight were found CVS-positive compared to those who did not. Conclusion: CVS and its associated symptoms were relatively common among medical students. Future studies are necessary to measure CVS across larger samples. Further awareness and routine ophthalmic assessments are imperative to mitigate this issue and promote ocular health. Keywords: Computer Vision Syndrome, Medical Students, Saudi Arabia, Electronic Devices.