Background: Computer vision syndrome is a group of eye and vision problems associated with the prolonged use of digital devices and has become more prevalent in communities and especially among university students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of eye disorders due to online studying during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, to determine the effect of online studying on eye health and to evaluate the relation between long-standing hours in front of screens (such as laptops/iPads) and common eye problems.
Methods: TA survey-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was distributed randomly from July to September 2021, which consisted of three sections to collect information related to sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, ophthalmology and eye problems linked to online studying.
Results: Out of total 204 participants, 76.5% were females. Mean age was 22.12 years with a standard deviation of 2.43. The results showed that the common ocular complaint among the participants was dryness of the eye (46.6%). There was a statistically significant relation between history of spectacle usage, history of contact lens usage, duration of usage, and refractive error (p-value = 0.000).
Conclusion: It is preferable to take lectures at the University instead of studying online with regular precautionary measures. There should be extended resting break time between each lecture, and students should use a moisturizing eye drop to prevent the dryness of the eyes.
Key words: eye problems, COVID-19, online, cross-sectional, Saudi Arabia.
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