Munir Amjad Baig, Rabeeya Munir, Waleed Munir.
Computer vision syndrome: a rising occupation hazard.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;58(1):31-4.

Background: Computers are necessity of 21st century however, became associated with occupation hazard in our setup due to visual, extra-visual, musculoskeletal and various other health related problems arising from their prolonged use. Objective: To know the frequency of various health related problems among computer users by observing their workstation practices. Study design, settings and duration: It was descriptive cross sectional study conducted in different ministries under Pakistan Secretariat Islamabad from November 2013 to February 2014. Subjects and Methods: The information was taken by face to face interviews and convenient sampling technique was used to select individuals using computers for working in different ministries under Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad. Federal government employees using computers were inspected in their offices and self?administered questionnaire was used to record all related information. Data collected by a trained interviewer while their workstation practices were evaluated by face to face interviews by applying OSHA VDT checklist. SPSS version 17 was used and data analyzed for frequencies/percentages. Results: Four hundred volunteers, age ranging 26-55 years with mean age 40.35 years ±10.78 participated/ screened in this study for computer vision syndrome (CVS). One eighty eight 188 (47%) subjects had visual problems. The most common complaint 73 (39%) was burning of eyes and this symptom was found mostly among 46-55 years group. Among extra visual problems, neck pain was commonest in 67% mostly in female of 36-45 years age group. OSHA VDT checklist scoring showed that 77% workstations were poorly designed. Sixty one percent subjects were not aware of ergonomics, 57% complained of noisy environment and 63.5% were dissatisfied with their workplaces. Conclusion: Subjects with longer duration of their service and computer usage showed increased percentages of eye strain in our study.

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