Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain in the Gaming Community of Pakistan during First Countrywide COVID Lockdown

Abstract

Objective: This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the prevalence of Digital Eye Strain (DES)
signs and symptoms among the video gamers in Pakistan, during the period of 1st countrywide COVID
lockdown (March 2020 to September 2020) imposed by the government.
Method: This survey was circulated via Google Forms on major social media gaming forums in Pakistan.
Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect data via an anonymous questionnaire
regarding the signs and symptoms of DES and the gaming routines of the participants. Data was analyzed
using SPSS 24.
Results: There were 201 (89.7%) males and 23 (10.3%) females with a mean age of 20.72±3.78 years and
mean gaming of 12.59±11.40 hours per week. Out of all the signs and symptoms, tired eyes (50.2%) was the
most common, followed by neck and/or shoulder pain (39.9%), headache (33.5%) and watery eyes (29.1%).
The symptom considered the most disturbing was Neck and/or Shoulder pain (18.3%). 112 (50%)
participants had a reduced visual acuity as well, and among them, the incidence during the lockdown was of
22 (19.6%) responders. Only the people showing four or more than four signs and symptoms were considered
Digital Eye Strain positive.
Conclusion: Signs and Symptoms of DES were more common among participants who did video gaming for
increased hours than with those who did less, and the difference was significant (p value = 0.03). Distance
from the screen had an insignificant effect on the signs and symptoms.

How to cite: Munir I, Ijaz F, Shoaib U, Yahya F, Aftab RK, Farid M. Prevalence of Digital Eye Strain in the Gaming Community of
Pakistan during First Countrywide COVID Lockdown. Esculapio - JSIMS 2022;18(01):15-19.