PREVALENCE OF OCULAR SYMPTOMS AMONG COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING IN SOUTH INDIA

BACKGROUND: It has been estimated that computer use is increasing exponentially worldwide and so have resultant health problems, especially ocular problems. These reduce quality of life and productivity of computer users leading to financial loses. There is an urgent need to reduce this emerging epidemic. AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of ocular symptoms among computer professionals in a University setting in South India and to establish associated variables. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among 385 non-teaching faculty members using computers in different offices of Manipal University. The ocular symptoms were evaluated by a modified pretested, structured questionnaire which included age, gender, amount of computer work, years of computer use, type of computer used, eye or systemic diseases, medications used, work-environment, breaks, optical correction, ocular symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms, general symptoms and ergonomics of computer work station. Chi square test was used to find out association between ocular symptoms and variables under study. RESULTS: Among computer professionals, ocular symptoms had a prevalence of 76%. The most prevalent symptom was eye strain (62%). Chi square test showed association between ocular symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms (p<0.0001) and general symptoms (p<0.0001). No statistical significance was observed between age, gender, duration of computer use, eye level and distance from the computer monitor and ocular symptoms. CONCLUSION: Self-reported ocular symptoms were highly prevalent among professionals using computers in a University setting. There is need of further studies performing clinical assessment of the subjects and find out the reason for symptoms and manage them effectively.