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DIGITAL EYE STRAIN AND IT’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ACCOMMODATIVE DYSFUNCTION AMONG YOUTHS IN ENUGU

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of digital eye strain (DES) and its association with accommodative dysfunction among young adults in Enugu, Nigeria. A quantitative survey research design was adopted for this study, employing a structured questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 120 respondents aged between 20 and 59 years. The questionnaire was meticulously designed to elicit information regarding participants’ demographics, digital device usage patterns, symptoms related to DES, and difficulties in focusing after extended digital device use. Prior to full-scale implementation, a pilot test was conducted to refine the questionnaire and ensure its relevance and clarity. Data collection spanned three months, during which participants provided responses to a range of Likert-scale items and multiple-choice questions. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 served as the primary tool for data entry, presentation, and analysis. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were employed to summarize the demographic characteristics of the participants and their responses to the survey items. Moreover, inferential statistical techniques such as t-tests were utilized to examine hypotheses regarding the relationship between DES symptoms and accommodative dysfunction. The findings of the study revealed a significant prevalence of DES symptoms among young adults who frequently engaged with digital devices. A majority of respondents reported experiencing eye discomfort, dryness, fatigue, and difficulties in maintaining clear vision or focusing after prolonged digital device use. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, indicated a noteworthy association between self-reported DES symptoms and difficulties in near vision focus, suggesting a potential link between DES and accommodative dysfunction. In conclusion, the study contributes valuable insights into the challenges posed by digital device usage on visual health among young adults in Enugu. These findings emphasize the importance of raising awareness about eye health, promoting ergonomic practices, and implementing preventive measures to alleviate the impact of digital eye strain and related ocular issues. The study recommends designing tailored interventions, educational campaigns, and policy initiatives to promote responsible digital device use and enhance accessibility to eye care services for young adults. Future research endeavors should consider longitudinal studies, qualitative investigations, and interdisciplinary collaborations to deepen understanding and address the multifaceted aspects of digital eye strain and visual health concerns across diverse populations.

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background

In the digital age, the use of electronic devices has become an integral part of our daily lives, especially among young adults. The widespread adoption of smartphones, tablets, computers, and other digital screens has revolutionized the way we communicate, work, and entertain ourselves. However, the extensive use of these devices has raised concerns about potential adverse effects on visual health. One particular issue that has gained attention is digital eye strain (DES), also known as computer vision syndrome or digital visual syndrome (Rosenfield 2016.)

 

Digital eye strain encompasses a range of ocular symptoms that occur after prolonged use of digital devices, including eye discomfort, dryness, fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches. The American Optometric Association (AOA) defines DES as “the physical discomfort felt after two or more hours in front of a digital screen.” With the increasing reliance on digital devices for work, education, and leisure activities, the prevalence of DES has become a significant concern among young adults.

Digital eye strain (DES), in other words, computer vision syndrome (CVS), is a condition of ocular discomfort or visual disturbance related to the prolonged use of digital devices like computers, tablets, e-readers, and cell phones and has been detected as an emerging public health issue resulting from a range of stresses on the ocular environment (American Optometric Association 2022; Coles-Brennan, Sulley and Young 2019).

Computer vision syndrome has been a recognized health problem for over 20 years. As the variety of digital devices linked to potential problems has increased over the years, the terms digital eye strain (DES) and visual fatigue (VS) has become, in some sense, more appropriate terms to use as patients may not consider devices such as tablets and smartphones to be computers (Sheppard and Wolffsohn 2018). Also, the terms digital device syndrome (DVS) and smartphone vision syndrome (SVS) have been used in studies, for example, by Hundekari, Sisodiya and Kot (2021).

There is a high commonness of visual complaints related to the visual stress associated with intensive near-visual work among computer workers, and all in all, as many as 90 percent of digital device users periodically experience symptoms of digital eye strain (Lawrenson, Hull and Downie 2017; Mork et al. 2018; Rosenfield 2011). According to Seguí et al. (2015), it has been estimated that 90% of the 70 million workers in the United States who use a computer more than 3 hours per day experience eye-related symptoms, and those symptoms have been considered one of the most common health-related complaints among video display terminal (VDT) workers. Because of the massive increase in the use of digital devices in recent years, many millions of people are at risk of DES. Even though symptoms are usually transient, the condition can cause significant, frequent discomfort for sufferers. Even though DES affects a massive number of individuals worldwide, its physiological basis and exact mechanism remain unclear (Coles-Brennan, Sulley and Young 2019; Sheppard and Wolffsohn 2018.)

Digital eye strain involves a group of ocular symptoms, including eye strain, headache, tired eyes, tearing, general fatigue, blurred vision, burning sensation, red eyes, irritation, dry eye, foreign body sensation, double vision, and pain behind the eye (Coles-Brennan, Sulley and Young 2019; Usgaonkar, Shet Parkar and Shetty 2021). The formal term for eye strain is asthenopia, a term generally used to describe symptoms related to prolonged use of the eyes (Heus, Verbeek and Tikka 2018). Literally, asthenopia refers to the weakness or impairment of the eyes or vision and is, therefore, appropriate to describe symptoms caused by a visual or ocular disorder rather than purely extrinsic environmental factors (Evans 2007, p.16).

DES symptoms can be divided into internal and external symptoms. Internal symptoms are more associated with accommodation and binocular vision anomalies, such as blurred vision at near, blurred distance vision after use of the computer, difficulty refocusing from one distance to another, headache, and ache behind the eyes. External symptoms, in turn, are more related to dry eye symptoms like burning eyes, irritation, tearing, eye strain, headache, tired eyes, sensitivity to bright lights, and eye discomfort (Sheppard and Wolffsohn 2018; Rosenfield 2011). These symptoms make up the umbrella diagnosis of computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain caused by the manifestation of an evaporative dry eye leading to ocular surface compromise and asthenopic symptoms caused by a constant state of accommodation and convergence (Bahkir and Grandee 2020).

Internal symptoms of computer vision syndrome associated with accommodation and vergence disorders seem to be, in most cases, a result of looking at a visually demanding near target for a long time and not specifically at the electronic monitor. On the contrary, dry eye symptoms seem to be directly related to computer use due to gaze position, reduced blinking rate, incomplete blinking, and other environmental factors. (Rosenfield 2011.)

1.2       Research Problem

Despite the growing prevalence of both digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction among young adults, the relationship between these two conditions remains poorly understood. Limited research has been conducted to investigate the association between digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction, especially in this specific age group. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive study to explore the potential relationship between digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction among young adults  (Rathi et al. 2017.)

1.3       Research Questions

This research seeks to address the following questions:

1. What is the prevalence of digital eye strain among young adults who frequently use digital devices in Enugu?
2. What is the prevalence of accommodative dysfunction among young adults who frequently use digital devices in Enugu?
3. Is there a significant relationship between digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction among young adults in Enugu?

1.4       Objectives

The primary objectives of this study are as follows:

1. To determine the prevalence of digital eye strain among young adults who frequently use digital devices in Enugu.
2. To determine the prevalence of accommodative dysfunction among young adults who frequently use digital devices in Enugu.
3. To investigate the relationship between digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction among young adults in Enugu.

1.5       Significance of the Study

This study holds significant importance in shedding light on the relationship between digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction among young adults in Enugu. Understanding these associations can help healthcare professionals, educators, and individuals themselves develop strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of digital device usage on visual health. The findings of this study can contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the impact of digital screens on ocular health and provide a basis for preventive interventions.

 

 

1.6       Chapter Overview

The subsequent chapters of this thesis will delve deeper into the topic of digital eye strain and its relationship with accommodative dysfunction among young adults. Chapter 2 will provide a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, including previous studies and theories related to digital eye strain and accommodative dysfunction. Chapter 3 will outline the methodology employed to conduct this research, including the study design, participant recruitment, data collection procedures, and statistical analysis. Chapter 4 will present the results of the study, followed by a detailed discussion in Chapter 5. Finally, Chapter 6 will provide a summary of the study, its contributions, and recommendations for future research.