Prevalence and Risk Factors of Computer Vision Syndrome among Medical Students
Prévalence et Facteurs de Risque du Syndrome de l’Écran de Visualisation Chez Les Étudiants en Médecine
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67260/hra.v4i7.7877Keywords:
Computer Vision Syndrome, medical students, dry eye, OSDI, CVS-QAbstract
Introduction. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a set of ocular and extra-ocular symptoms associated with prolonged use of digital screens. It is particularly common among medical students who are highly exposed to screens. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CVS and identify its risk factors among medical students in Burkina Faso. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 medical students using a self-administered questionnaire. Sociodemographic data, screen-use habits, and ocular symptoms were collected. Two validated tools were used: the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) to assess symptomatic dry eye and the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q) to evaluate CVS. Statistical associations were analyzed with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results. The prevalence of CVS was 44.3%. The most frequent symptoms were increased sensitivity to light (53.66%) and headaches (56.1%). Factors significantly associated with CVS were uncorrected ametropia (p < 0.001) and daily screen use duration (p = 0.032). Symptomatic dry eye, assessed using the OSDI, affected 54.1% of students, of whom 21.1% had a severe form. Conclusion. Nearly half of the students experienced Computer Vision Syndrome. Simple measures such as appropriate optical correction, improved visual ergonomics, and regular breaks are essential to reduce ocular symptoms.
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