Assessment of Dry Eye Disease Symptoms in Health Science University Students: A Combined Approach Using CVS-Q and Schirmer Tear Test to Evaluate the Influence of Digital Devices

Ragad Allwihan,1,2 Amani Y Alhalwani,1,2 Abdullah Aleissa,1,2 Ali S Alsudais,3 Mohammed F Gholam2,3 1Basic Sciences Department, College of Science and Health Professions, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Biomedical Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Basic Medical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ragad Allwihan, Email [email protected]: The swift development of our digital lives has led to a significant reliance on devices for everyday tasks, including education. The adverse effects of these devices on health are the subject of numerous studies and investigations. In this study, we assessed the relationship between answers to the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q) and the Schirmer tear test for the detection of symptoms of Dry Eye Disease (DED). Qualitative and quantitative data were combined to examine the association between electronic device use and the appearance of such symptoms in health science students in Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Jeddah among 111 students from October 2023 to May 2024. DED symptoms were investigated in two steps: first, using the CVS-Q; and second, with the Schirmer tear test under topical anesthesia (1.0% tetracaine hydrochloride eye drops).Results: The CVS-Q findings showed that a majority of students (58.9% of males and 86.8% of females) used tablets for online courses. The average distance at which the students placed their devices from their eyes was between 25cm and 45cm (58.9% of males, 65.79% of females). Most students (90.4% of men, 92.1% of women) used devices for more than five hours a day. Women reported more DED symptoms than did men, especially burning, dryness, and headache (63.16%), while the men mostly experienced dryness (47.95%). The CVS-Q indicated that 41.10% of males and 57.89% of females had dry eyes, while the Schirmer test indicated that 30.14% of males experienced greater dryness. A negative correlation was found between CVS-Q scores, Schirmer test results, and the influence of digital device use among students, by gender.Conclusion: This study found that assessing DED–like symptoms via the link between the CVS-Q score and the Schirmer test may indicate the influence of digital device use among healthcare students.Keywords: digital devices, dry eye disease symptoms, health science university students, Schirmer test, gender difference