Lotfy Nancy M, Shafik Heba M, Nassief Mona
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 2022 Dec 3;11(3):119-128. doi: 10.51329/mehdiophthal1455. eCollection 2022 Fall.
Shifting to online learning during the coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of individuals symptomatic of digital eye strain (DES). This study aimed to determine the frequency and potential risk factors of DES among university staff members and students in this pandemic era.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the pandemic, in May and June 2020. The online questionnaire was designed to collect data on DES-related ocular and extraocular manifestations. The survey was sent via social media to the previous year's students and staff within the Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. The responses were downloaded and analyzed.
Of the 412 participants completing the questionnaire, 34 (8.3%) were university staff members with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 36.7 (6.6) years, and 378 (91.7%) were university students with a mean (SD) age of 20.8 (1.8) years. Participants with DES symptoms numbered 294 (71.4%) before the lockdown, increasing to 366 (88.8%) during the last month, with 84 developing new-onset DES. Most participants reported ocular symptoms associated with DES. After the lockdown, both students and staff had a significant prolongation of nighttime digital screen use and TV watching, an increase in the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) severity scale scores, and anxiety and depression, with a reduced duration of daytime reading (all P < 0.05). Students had a significant prolongation of daytime digital screen use and TV watching and an increase in the frequency of eye lubricant use and mean Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-4 scores (all < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that studenthood and increased nighttime screen use were independent risk factors for DES by odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 10.60 (2.12 - 53.00) and 3.99 (1.71 - 9.34), respectively (both < 0.05).
Lockdown and closure of the university, with a shift to online learning, increased the exposure of staff and students to digital screens and the number of individuals with DES. Studenthood and prolonged nighttime digital screen use were independent risk factors for DES. Further studies investigating the prevalence and risk factors of DES, comparing similar data during and after the pandemic, may reveal other aspects of DES caused by virtual reality-based training.
在新冠疫情期间转向在线学习增加了出现数字眼疲劳（DES）症状的人数。本研究旨在确定在这个疫情时代，大学教职员工和学生中DES的发生率及潜在风险因素。
在2020年5月和6月疫情期间进行了一项横断面在线调查。在线问卷旨在收集与DES相关的眼部和眼外表现的数据。该调查通过社交媒体发送给埃及坦塔大学医学院上一年的学生和教职员工。对回复进行下载和分析。
在完成问卷的412名参与者中，34名（8.3%）是大学教职员工，平均（标准差[SD]）年龄为36.7（6.6）岁，378名（91.7%）是大学生，平均（SD）年龄为20.8（1.8）岁。在封锁前有DES症状的参与者有294名（71.4%），在最后一个月增加到366名（88.8%），其中84名出现新发DES。大多数参与者报告了与DES相关的眼部症状。封锁后，学生和教职员工夜间使用数字屏幕和看电视的时间均显著延长，4项患者健康问卷（PHQ - 4）严重程度量表得分、焦虑和抑郁增加，白天阅读时间减少（所有P < 0.05）。学生白天使用数字屏幕和看电视的时间显著延长，使用眼部润滑剂的频率和平均感知压力量表（PSS） - 4得分增加（所有P < 0.05）。多因素逻辑回归分析显示，学生身份和夜间屏幕使用增加是DES的独立危险因素，优势比（95%置信区间）分别为10.60（2.12 - 53.00）和3.99（1.71 - 9.34）（两者P < 0.05）。
大学的封锁和关闭以及转向在线学习，增加了教职员工和学生接触数字屏幕的机会以及DES患者的数量。学生身份和夜间长时间使用数字屏幕是DES的独立危险因素。进一步研究调查DES的患病率和风险因素，比较疫情期间和之后的类似数据，可能会揭示基于虚拟现实训练导致的DES的其他方面。
