Concurrent Rising of Dry Eye and Eye Strain Symptoms Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Cross-Sectional Study

Recommendations for nutritional supplements for dry eye disease: current advances

Dry eye disease (DED) represents a prevalent ocular surface disease. The development of effective nutritional management strategies for DED is crucial due to its association with various factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress, deficiencies in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), imbalanced PUFA ratios, and vitamin insufficiencies. Extensive research has explored the impact of oral nutritional supplements, varying in composition and dosage, on the symptoms of DED. The main components of these supplements include fish oils (Omega-3 fatty acids), vitamins, trace elements, and phytochemical extracts. Beyond these well-known nutrients, it is necessary to explore whether novel nutrients might contribute to more effective DED management. This review provides a comprehensive update on the therapeutic potential of nutrients and presents new perspectives for combination supplements in DED treatment.

Digital Eye Straining: Exploring Its Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Effects on the Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Digital eye strain (DES) has become a pervasive issue in contemporary society due to increased reliance on electronic devices. This study aims to comprehensively explore the symptoms, severity, and associated factors of DES, considering demographic, behavioral, and health-related variables.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted among participants with diverse demographic backgrounds. A structured questionnaire collected data on participant characteristics, electronic device usage patterns, symptoms of DES, and its impact on various aspects of quality of life. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were employed to assess associations and significance.

RESULTS

The majority of participants reported symptoms of DES, with eye dryness, headache, and eye redness being the most prevalent. Symptom severity varied, with age, daily device usage, adherence to the 20-20-20 rule, and studying with electronic devices demonstrating statistically significant associations. Participants diagnosed with eye diseases exhibited higher symptom severity. While disagreement was common regarding DES increasing stress, a substantial proportion acknowledged its impact on productivity and attention.

CONCLUSION

The current study showed that there is a significant correlation between the incidence of digital eye straining and longer screen exposure time. The findings underscore the importance of age, behavior, and ocular health in understanding and addressing DES. The results contribute to the broader discourse on digital eye health and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to alleviate the impact of DES on daily life.

Exploring the Effect of Trataka (A Yogic Cleansing Technique) and Cold Eye Pack on Eye Strain During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Three-Arm Trial

Objective: Computer vision syndrome is a major global public health concern affecting >60 million individuals globally. Yoga and naturopathy practices can reduce visual fatigue and strain. The present study attempted to explore the effect of trataka that is, a yogic cleansing technique and cold eye pack on visual strain and fatigue. Subjects: Three hundred volunteers from an IT company were recruited following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Intervention: The subjects were randomly distributed in three groups, that is, trataka, cold eye pack, and waitlist control group with an allocation ratio of 1:1:1. Outcome measure: Visual Fatigue Scale and Visual symptoms checklist (VSC) was administered at baseline and end of 2 weeks. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) with Bonferroni corrections was used to test the difference across the groups. Results: All the variables were similar at the baseline among the groups. Significant changes in the within-group analysis occurred in both the trataka and cold eye pack groups. The RM-ANOVA revealed significant differences in the VAS and VSC (p = 0.001) and the post hoc analysis suggested that there were significant differences in both the trataka and cold eye pack group when compared with the control group (p = 0.001); however, there was no differences between the trataka and cold eye pack group in both the scales (p = 1). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that a trataka and cold eye pack for 14 days improves self-rated visual strain and fatigue among IT professionals with computer vision syndrome. Clinical Trial registration number: CTRI/2020/11/029003.

Prevalence of computer vision syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Computer vision syndrome has become a significant public health problem, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study aims to identify the prevalence of computer vision syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase up to February 22, 2023, using the search terms "Computer Vision Syndrome" and "COVID-19". Three authors independently performed study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction, and the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was used to evaluate study quality. Heterogeneity was assessed using the statistical test I2, and the R version 4.2.3 program was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 192 studies were retrieved, of which 18 were included in the final meta-analysis. The total sample included 10,337 participants from 12 countries. The combined prevalence of computer vision syndrome was 74% (95% CI: 66, 81). Subgroup analysis based on country revealed a higher prevalence of computer vision syndrome in Pakistan (99%, 95% CI: 97, 100) and a lower prevalence in Turkey (48%, 95% CI: 44, 52). In addition, subgroup analysis based on study subjects showed a prevalence of 82% (95% CI: 74, 89) for computer vision syndrome in non-students and 70% (95% CI: 60, 80) among students.

CONCLUSION

According to the study, 74% of the participants experienced computer vision syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this finding, it is essential to implement preventive and therapeutic measures to reduce the risk of developing computer vision syndrome and improve the quality of life of those affected.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in the international registry of systematic reviews, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42022345965.

Prevalence of computer vision syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This review aimed to estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) in the general population and subgroups.

METHODS

A search was conducted in the following the databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science until February 13, 2023. We included studies that assessed the prevalence of CVS in any population. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality. A meta-analysis of the prevalence of CVS was done using a random-effects model, assessing the sources of heterogeneity using subgroup and meta-regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 103 cross-sectional studies with 66 577 participants were included. The prevalence of CVS was 69.0% (95% CI: 62.3 to 75.3; I2: 99.7%), ranging from 12.1 to 97.3% across studies. Point prevalence was higher in women than in men (71.4 vs. 61.8%), university students (76.1%), Africa (71.2%), Asia (69.9%), contact lens wearers (73.1% vs. 63.8%) in studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic (72.8%), and in those that did not use the CVS-Q questionnaire (75.4%). In meta-regression, using the CVS-Q scale was associated with a lower prevalence of CVS.

CONCLUSION

Seven out of ten people suffer from CVS. Preventive strategies and interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of this condition which can affect productivity and quality of life. Future studies should standardize a definition of CVS.