Prevalence, knowledge and awareness of computer vision syndrome among students in a tertiary academic institution

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a common oculo-visual problem reported among active screen users. This study reports the prevalence of CVS among university students in a tertiary institution in Zimbabwe.

The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design with eligible participants recruited using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered online questionnaire comprising three sections: socio-demographic information, verified prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS-Q), and knowledge and awareness of CVS.

Data was collected from 374 undergraduate students, the majority of whom were from the Faculties of Science and Engineering (30.7%) and were in their second year (32.1%). The prevalence of CVS was 35.6% (n = 133), with a slightly higher prevalence among females (38.7%) compared to males (31.5%, p = 0.158). Most affected students reported moderate symptoms, with headaches, dryness, and blurred vision being the most frequent complaints. Although 48.4% of participants had heard of CVS, detailed knowledge remained limited. While significant associations were found between CVS symptoms and several variables tested, using a digital device (p = 0.009) and a history of refractive errors (p = 0.010) were the main independent predictors of CVS knowledge.

A considerable number of university students experience CVS with various common symptoms. The presence of limited knowledge and common modifiable risk factors among these students underscores the importance of targeted education and ergonomic interventions, in addition to routine vision screening within university settings, to mitigate the burden of CVS.