Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrom and Predisposing Factors Among Engineering Students in Hawass University Institution of Techenology Campus, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2019

Lack of detail information about the magnitude of the computer vision syndrome (CVS) and the factors which predominantly cause CVS. This study has an importance for further studies as a baseline data. The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude of CVS and associated factors on students of Hawassa university institution of technology, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2019.

Institution based cross sectional study design was used from March 30 to May 2019. A multi stage sampling was used. Four departments were selected by using simple random sampling. Among each selected departments students was selected by using systematic random sampling and calculating proportion (K) on each selected department based on the proportion of the number of students in each department. And the final sample size was 896. Each student was assessed whether he/she was exposed to any kind of visual display terminal (VDT). Face to face interview, ocular examination and observation during VDT use was performed by five optometrists from March 30 to May 2019. After collected data was cleaned and coded, EPI info 2002 for data entry and SPSS version 16.0 software for data analysis was used. Odds ratio with a 95% CI will be used to display results. P value less than 0.05 in multivariate logistic regressions was used to show statistical significance.

The prevalence of Computer vision syndrome is 41.7% and urban(OR =1.66; CI = (1.14, 2.43)), no glass use(OR = 6.01 ; CI = (1.67, 21.63)), reading playing game with VDT (OR = 2.33; CI = (1.33, 4.08)), reading and watching movies with VDT (OR = 1.49; CI = (1.02, 2.18)), using Smartphone (OR = 0.60; CI = (0.38, 0.95)), remote NPC (OR= 3.19; CI = (1.64, 6.25)) and moderate size of VDT (OR = 0.63; CI = (0.41, 0.96)) were significantly associated with CVS. There is 0.39Ds reduction of amplitude of accommodation in students who has CVS.

The prevalence of CVS was high in engineering students, mostly having symptoms of tearing. It is better to avoid using VDT like Smartphone for multiple activities like reading, playing game and watching movies and need an eye examination and protective glass to prevent CVS.