VISION AND LIFE QUALITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON STUDENTS FROM MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES
Abstract
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a significant health issue, especially among medical students due to their extensive use of digital devices. This study aims to examine the relationship between CVS and the use of various gadgets among Romanian, English, and French medical students, while also assessing differences between these groups. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted with 292 Romanian, 62 English, and 61 French medical students from universities in Iași and Paris. An anonymous survey, distributed via Google Forms, gathered data on CVS symptoms. Results: Female students predominated across all groups (64.7% of Romanians, 69% of French, and 54.8% of English). The most common eye symptoms reported were dry eyes, focusing difficulties, and eye fatigue. Romanian students experienced dry eyes (73.3%) and blurred vision (68.9%); English students reported eye fatigue (66.1%) and dry eyes (58.1%); while French students primarily faced eye fatigue (91.8%). Neck, shoulder, and back pain were common non-ocular symptoms across all groups. Conclusions: Ocular symptoms like dry eyes, eye fatigue, and blurred vision were similar among the groups, with widespread recognition of the health impacts of prolonged screen use.
References
1. Sen A, Richardson S. A study of computer-related upper limb discomfort and computer vision syndrome. J Hum Ergol (Tokyo) 2007; 36: 45-50.
2. Moldovan HR, Voidazan ST, Moldovan G, Vlasiu MA, Moldovan G, Panaitescu R. Accommodative asthenopia among Romanian computer-using medical students-A neglected occupational disease. Arch Environ Occup Health 2020; 75: 235-241.
3. Dessie A, Adane F, Nega A, Wami SD, Chercos DH. Computer vision syndrome and associated factors among computer users in Debra tabor town, northwest Ethiopia. J Environ Public Health 2018; 2018: 4107590.
4. Pavel IA, Bogdanici CM, Donica VC, et al. Computer Vision Syndrome: An Ophthalmic Pathology of the Modern Era. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59(2): 412.
5. Hayes JR, Sheedy JE, Stelmack JA, Heaney CA. Computer use, symptoms, and quality of life. Optom Vis Sci 2007; 84: 738-744.
6. Sitaula RK, Khatri A. Knowledge, attitudes and practice of computer vision syndrome among medical students and its impact on ocular morbidity. J Nepal Health Res Counc 2018; 16: 291-296.
7. Wang L, Wei X, Deng Y. Computer Vision Syndrome During SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak in University Students: A Comparison Between Online Courses and Classroom Lectures. Front Public Health 2021; 9: 696036.
8. Chyad S, Zyara A, Saleem S, Al-Hasani A. Comparative Study of Computer Vision Syndrome and Smart Devices among the Employers and Students in College of College of health and Medical Technique of University of Al -Furat Al-Awsat Techniques. Kufa. Journal of University of Babylon for Pure and Applied Sciences 2018; 26: 29-40.
9. Al Tawil L, Aldokhayel S, Zeitouni L, Qadoumi T, Hussein S, Ahamed SS. Prevalence of self-reported computer vision syndrome symptoms and its associated factors among university students. Eur J Ophthalmol 2020; 30(1): 189-195.
10. Pavel IA, Andronic DG, Bogdanici CM. Computer Vision Syndrome in Medical Students and Healthcare Workers. The Medical-Surgical Journal 2022; 126(3): 361-368.
11. Patil A, Bhavya, Chaudhury S, Srivastava S. Eyeing computer vision syndrome: Awareness, knowledge, and its impact on sleep quality among medical students. Ind Psychiatry J 2019; 28(1): 68-74.
12. Altalhi A, Khayyat W, Khojah O, Alsalmi M, Almarzouki H. Computer Vision Syndrome Among Health Sciences Students in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence and Risk Factors. Cureus 2020; 12(2): e7060.
13. Gammoh Y. Digital Eye Strain and Its Risk Factors Among a University Student Population in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2021;13(2): e13575.
14. Lunge VR, Kokiwar PR. Prevalence and purposes of gadget use among medical students. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health 2019; 6(2) / doi:10.18203 /2394-6040.ijcmph20190083
15. Ganganahalli P, Tondare MB, Durgawale M. Use of Electronic Gadgets among Medical Students in Western Maharashtra, India. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research 2014; 4: 26-30.
16. Martinescu G, Bogdanici CM, Pavel IA, Ciocoiu M. Difficulties in Performing Daily Activities in Patients with Dry Eye before and after Treatment. Medicina (Kaunas) 2022; 59(1): 25.
17. Iqbal M, El-Massry A, Elagouz M, Elzembely H. Computer Vision Syndrome Survey among the Medical Students in Sohag University Hospital, Egypt. Ophthalmology Research: An International Journal 2018; 8(1): 1-8.
18. Kharel Sitaula R, Khatri A. Knowledge, Attitude and practice of Computer Vision Syndrome among medical students and its impact on ocular morbidity. J Nepal Health Res Counc 2018;16(3): 291-296.
19. Tsou MT. Influence of Prolonged Visual Display Terminal Use on Physical and Mental Conditions among Health Care Workers at Tertiary Hospitals, Taiwan. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19(7): 3770.
20. Artime-Ríos E, Suárez-Sánchez A, Sánchez-Lasheras F, Seguí-Crespo M. Computer vision syndrome in healthcare workers using video display terminals: an exploration of the risk factors. J Adv Nurs 2022; 78(7): 2095-2110.
21. Marskole P, Yadav R, Sethia S, Parmar S, Bhagora R, Parihar L. A study on assessment of effects of electronic gadgets on mental and physical health among medical students in Central India. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health 2022; 9(1).
22. Zairina A, Sanip S. Computer user: Demographic and computer related factorsthat predispose user to get computer vision syndrome. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology 2011;1(2): 84-91.
23. Arif K, Alam M. Computer vision syndrome. Farid pur Med Coll J 2015; 10(1): 33-35.
24. Smita A, Goel D, Sharma A. Evaluation of the Factors which contribute to the ocular complaints in computer workers. J Clin Diagn Res 2013; 7(2): 331-335.
25. Logaraj M, Madhupriya V, Hegde SK.Computer vision syndrome and associated factors among medical and engineering students in Chennai. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2014; 4(2): 179-185.

Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 The Medical-Surgical Journal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
COPYRIGHT
Once an article is accepted for publication, MSJ requests a transfer of copyrights for published articles.
COPYRIGHT TRANSFER FORM FOR
REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ A SOCIETĂȚII DE MEDICI ȘI NATURALIȘTI DIN IAȘI /
THE MEDICAL-SURGICAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF PHYSICIANS AND NATURALISTS FROM IASI
We, the undersigned authors of the manuscript entitled
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
warrant that this manuscript, which is submitted for publication in the REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ, has not been published and it is not under consideration for publication in another journal.
- we give the consent for publication in the REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ, in printed and electronic format and we transfer unconditioned and complete the copyright of this manuscript to the REVISTA MEDICO-CHIRURGICALĂ, in the event of its acceptance.
- the manuscript does not break the intellectual property rights of any other person.
- we have read the submitted version of the manuscript and we are fully responsible for the content.
Names and signatures of authors / copyright owners (the following sequence is the authorship of the article):
- ______________________________/_________________________
- ______________________________/_________________________
- ______________________________/_________________________
N.B. All the authors must sign this form