Increased Screen Time and Severity of Asthenopic and Ocular Dryness Symptoms During COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The sudden increase in screen time usage during the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in a significant increase in visual symptoms. The majority of these symptoms are consistent with those reported from patients who experience dry eyes and non-strabismic binocular vision abnormalities (NSBVA). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of increased screen time during COVID-19 pandemic in the severity of dry eye and asthenopia. METHODS: Subjects with age group 18-35 years with no previous episodes of symptoms associated with dry eyes and asthenopia prior to COVID-19 were recruited. All the subjects underwent a comprehensive binocular vision assessment followed by dry eye evaluation. SPEED and CISS scores were computed to assess the severity of symptoms. RESULTS: 44 subjects with asthenopia and dry eye symptoms met the inclusion criteria, They had a mean (SD) age of 27 (+/- 4) years. A statistically significant difference was noted for all the measured parameters except for negative fusional vergence (p=0.059). Strong positive correlation was noticed between the CISS scores and the screen time usage (r=0.78, p<0.001 Spearman correlation coefficient), and a moderate positive correlation between the SPEED scores and the screen time usage (r=0.56, p=0.01 Spearman correlation coefficient) CONCLUSION: Dry eyes and non-strabismic binocular vision problems post COVID-19 pandemic have risen significantly, due to the significant increase in the screen time usage. Incorporating an adequate binocular vision and dry eye evaluation in conjunction with a comprehensive ocular examination would help the patients through earlier diagnosis, and provide a plan for better management.