Digital Vision Syndrome (DVS) Among Medical Students During Covid-19 Pandemic Curfew

Abstract

In the present era, mobiles and other digital display devices have become an essential part of our daily life. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic curfew, the use of digital gadgets has increased many folds, with direct proportion to increased health risks, especially eyes. In this study, we aim to assess the prevalence, risk factors and symptomatology of Digital vision syndrome (DVS) among medical students during the COVID-19 lockdown. This is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. The undergraduate medical students were asked to fill an electronic self-administered survey. The survey included questions regarding their digital device usage before and after the curfew and various factors related to DVS. Among 250 medical students during this lockdown period, it was observed the screen time or hours spent on using a digital screen by the respondents increased significantly in the 2-3 hours and 3-4 hours category and a significant difference (p=0.000) was observed in 1% level of significance in pre and post lockdown. No significant change was observed in the type and illumination of gadgets used. Around 60% of the students were in intensive lockdown, and up to 51% of the students felt the upsurge in DVS symptoms. Nearly 82.3% of students experienced one or more symptoms of DVS. The most commonly reported symptom was headache which shot up after the lockdown to 51.6% from 32.7%. It was followed by eye strain and dry eyes, which increased from 19.5% to 40.3% and 10% to 21% respectively after curfew.  During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, there appeared to be an exacerbated increase in DVS symptoms among medical students, one of the leading reasons being increased screen time. A significant association was found between the rise in symptoms and intensive lockdown.