Efficacy of ergonomic modifications in the management of computer vision syndrome among medical students.

Abstract

Background: Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is an increasingly prevalent ocular health concern among medical students due to visual display terminal (VDT) dependent learning methods. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of CVS among medical students and the effectiveness of a 2-week ergonomic intervention in reducing its symptoms.

Methodology: Medical students between 17 and 25 years of age, using VDT for ≥6 months with corrected visual acuity of 6/6 were included. CVS score was recorded using a validated questionnaire. Participants attended a 1-h ergonomic counseling session, followed by a 2-week intervention period where adherence was tracked using an objective assessment card. On day 15, the preergonomic session CVS score was compared with postsession score to evaluate the efficacy of ergonomic modifications.

Results: In the study of 114 participants (90 males and 24 females), cellphones (100%), laptops (46%), and tablets (40%) were the most common VDTs used. At baseline, the median CVS score was 4.00 (inter-quartile ratio [IQR]: 2.00-8.00), with 41.2% reporting CVS symptoms. Postintervention, CVS symptoms were reported in 18.4% participants. The median CVS score decreased significantly to 2.00 (IQR: 1.00-5.00; Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Z = -6.525, P < 0.0001). Symptoms like burning, itching, and tearing improved significantly (P < 0.0001), whereas others, including headache and blurred vision, showed no significant improvement.

Conclusion: CVS is an increasingly prevalent ocular pathology among medical students. Adopting correct ergonomic practices can play a crucial step in the management of many of its symptoms, underscoring the importance of sensitizing VDT users to correct ergonomic principles.