Increase in usage of digital devices and mandatory e-learning imposed during the Covid 19 pandemic curfew may have given rise to an emerging public health threat of digital eyestrain among undergraduate medical students in the state. The study aimed to assess the distribution of digital eyestrain among undergraduate medical students and to determine the association between digital eyestrain and screen time spent on different digital devices for e-learning and social media use.A cross sectional, questionnaire based online study was done on undergraduate medical students of a teaching hospital in Central Kerala during the month of October, 2020. Survey form included CVS-Q questionnaire, OSDI questionnaire and questions regarding screen time spent on different digital devices for e-learning and social media use.Around three -fourth of the 113 participants experienced at least one symptom of digital eyestrain. Headache (76.1%) was the most common symptom followed by neck/shoulder/back pain (67.3%), tearing(49.6%), itching(48.7%), eye pain (41.6%) and increased sensitivity to light (38.1%).OSDI score revealed that 67.7% of the students had dry eye disease. Screen time of more than 6 hours spent on mobile/tablet was significantly associated with feeling of foreign body sensation, excessive blinking and itching. Lens /spectacle use was significantly associated with a feeling that eyesight is worsening and difficulty focusing for near vision. No association was seen between screen time spent for e- learning and digital eyestrain. Steps towards awareness and prevention of digital eyestrain should be taken to promote ocular health and to avoid this occupational hazard.
BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major cause of avoidable blindness in the developing and the developed countries. Diabetic patients have 25 times more chance of becoming blind than the non-diabetics.1 According to the WHO, the number of people in India affected with Diabetes Mellitus in the year 2000 was 31.7 million which is estimated to rise to 79.4 million by 2030, which would be higher than any other country in the world. 75 percent of all Type 2 diabetics and almost all Type 1 diabetics are expected to develop diabetic retinopathy (DR) over a period of time.2 Diabetic dermopathy or shin spots are the commonest dermatological manifestation in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. It is also known as pigmented pretibial patches, spotted leg syndrome or diabetic dermangiopathy.3 Both diabetic retinopathy and dermopathy are manifestations of diabetic microangiopathy. We wanted to study the association between diabetic retinopathy and diabetic dermopathy. METHODS 182 patients (between 40 - 70 years of age) having diabetes mellitus for at least five years were included in the study and were examined for retinal changes and skin changes. The study period was six months. RESULTS Of the 182 diabetic patients included in this study, 106 (58.2 %) had diabetic retinopathy. Shin spots were seen in 158 cases (86.8 %). 100 (94.3 %) cases with diabetic retinopathy had shin spots. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus in patients with diabetic retinopathy was 11.85 years and it was 8.16 years in those without diabetic retinopathy. The mean duration of diabetes mellitus in patients with shin spots was 14.88 years and it was 10.70 years in those without shin spots. CONCLUSIONS There is significant association between diabetic retinopathy and diabetic dermopathy. KEYWORDS Diabetic Retinopathy, Shin Spots, Diabetic Dermopathy
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