269990 Prevalence and correlates of computer vision syndrome in Hong Kong

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM

Jean Kim, ScD , The School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Fiona Lo, MPH , The School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
Johnson Lau, PhD , The School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
Terry Wong, BS , The School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
Vivian Yeung, MPH , The School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
Nathalie Chan, MPH , The School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
William Goggins, ScD , School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Background: Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) refers a collection of vision and musculoskeletal symptoms that are related to prolonged computer use. Previous studies had mainly been conducted in Western populations prior to explosive growth of the internet and no surveys of CVS have been conducted in an Asian population. Methods: In 2010, a telephone survey was conducted on 670 Hong Kong adults (18-60 yrs of age,(response rate = 66.1%). This study examined the general pattern of CVS and severity of symptoms by user characteristics and computer use patterns. Results: After age-standardization, approximately two-thirds of Hong Kong's adult population (18-60 yrs) had at least one vision symptom related to computer use . Among computer users, 9% of males and 16% of female computer users reported vision problems severe enough to affect their daily life. The most common vision-related complaints were tired eyes (67.7%), dry eyes (33.1%) and headache (17.8%). Of computer users, over 60% reported musculoskeletal symptoms (neck pain: 49.5%, shoulder pain: 47.2%, back pain: 40.8%). Although the unadjusted analyses showed that factors such as computer game playing were associated with CVS vision symptoms, only daily computer hours, female gender, heavy text-based computer use and astigmatism were associated with greater risk of CVS vision symptoms whereas wearing eye glasses was a protective factor in the multivariate analyses. Screen size and computer type (laptop or desktop) had no association with CVS. Conclusion: CVS is extremely prevalent among Hong Kong Chinese adults that may foreshadow similar trends in less developed mainland Chinese cities.

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe the prevalence of Computer vision Syndrome in an urban Asian city with high internet penetration. 2. To describe the types of computer-based activities that predispose individuals to Computer-vision syndrome 3. To describe the prevalence of symptoms such as eyestrain and dry eyes among regular computer users in various age groups

Keywords: Vision Care, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a public health researcher that has been researching the effects of computer use and internet use on health. I am the Principal Investigator of this grant examining vision in relation to computer use.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.