Computer Vision Syndrome and Associated Factors among Computer Users in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Globally, computer is one of the common office tools used in various institutions. Using computer for prolonged time led to the users at greater health risk of computer vision syndrome (CVS). Computer vision syndrome is the leading occupational health problem of the twenty-first century. About 70 percent of computer users are suffered from CVS. Besides the health problems, CVS causes inefficiency at workplace and deteriorate quality of work. The problem of CVS and its risk factors are not well known in Ethiopia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of CVS and associated factors among computer user government employees in Debre Tabor town from February to March, 2016. Multistage random sampling method was applied to select 607 study participants, and the data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. Computer vision syndrome was measured by self-reported method. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. Significance level was obtained at 95% CI and p value < 0.05. Results The prevalence of CVS was 422 (69.5%) with 95% CI of 65.60, 73.0%. Blurred vision, eyestrain, and eye irritation were the commonest reported symptoms of CVS with proportion of 62.60%, 47.63%, and 47.40%, respectively. Occupation: officer (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.74) and secretary (AOR = 9.17), daily computer usage (AOR: 2.29), and preexisting eye disease (AOR = 3.19) were risk factors for CVS. However, computer users with high payment, who took regular health break, and with good knowledge on computer safety measures were less impacted by CVS. Conclusion The prevalence of computer vision syndrome was found to be higher in Debre Tabor town. Monthly income, occupation, daily computer usage, regular health break, knowledge, and preexisting eye disease were predictor variables for CVS. Optimizing exposure time, improving awareness on safety measures, and management support are important to tackle CVS.

Computer Professionals and their Health issues and Managements

“…Headache and eyestrain were the most common symptoms of CVS among the studied population [13]. It is obvious that there was potential association between current and previous studies on how to takle heatlh problems and lead a positive life style [14].…”

“…More than 120 million people here are engaged with computer work and the number of people using computer has been progressively increasing every day [3]. A Study was carried out in Jamnagar in India to ascertain whether computer professionals had Computer Vision Manuscript received: 10 th September 2018 Reviewed: 20 th September 2018 Author Corrected; 25 th September 2018 Accepted for Publication 30 th September 2018 Syndrome, in which of the 1205 professionals surveyed, nearly half of them had it owing to the computer usage. It also revealed that 70% of the computer professionals working in metropolitan cities across India had CVS [4].…”

A cross sectional overview of digital eye strain: a growing health concern in this digital age in central India (Madhya Pradesh)

“…In the present study, 89.5% students stated experiencing the symptoms of DES which is similar to that reported by Logaraj et al and Reddy et al 9,10 The prevalence of DES or CVS ranged from 53-73% in several other studies on computer users. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] In a study in Malaysia conducted on 795 university students aged between 18 and 25 years, 89.9% of students surveyed feeling any type of symptom of DES. 10…”

“…12,18 However, various other studies on college students or computer users found a male preponderance of DES; mean age being between 21 to 25 years. 9,11,15,16,19…”

“…23 Blurred vision was the most common symptom reported by Lakachew et al among bank workers and Dessie et al among computer users in Ethiopia. 16,17 Choi et al and Pinitpuwadol et al did comparative studies to explore the effect of digital device (smartphone and e-book respectively) use on tear film and ocular symptoms. 24,25 They concluded that the group using digital device showed higher fatigue, burning, and dryness scores than the control group; and digital device use significantly decreased FBUT and NIBUT.…”