Dr. AMRESH KUMAR

Dr. ASHISH KUMAR SHARMA, Dr. PRAKASH KUMAR, DR. DEVASHISH SETH

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of digital eye strain among medical students during online teaching in COVID-19.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study

METHODS: 438 medical students undergoing online classes were asked to fill an electronic self-administered questionnaire unanimously.

RESULTS: The most commonly used device was smartphone (87.7%). 63% were attending online classes for 4 hours daily and 34% were attending classes for more than 4 hours. 57.3%were using digital devices for 8 hours on average daily and 21.2% were using it for more than 8 hours daily. 97.03% (425) of the study participants had at least one symptom of eye strain. The symptoms most experienced were tired eyes (83.6%), headache (73.8%), feeling of eye strain (73.5%), neck pain (64.8%), backache (61.9%) and ocular pain and irritated eyes (60.5% each)

CONCLUSION: There has been increase in the prevalence of digital eye strain due to shift from classroom teaching to online teaching.