Digital Eye Strain from Digital Device Usage Among University Students: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Objective: To study the prevalence and associated factors of digital eye strain among university students. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey and analytical study was conducted on 387 university students, ranging from 1st to 4th year, aged 18–23 years. The participants were digital device users who had not been medically diagnosed with any eye diseases affecting their use of digital devices. Statistical analyses were performed using the Descriptive Statistics, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. Results: The prevalence of digital eye strain among university students was found to be 80.40%. The most common symptoms were headache (80.62%), burning sensation in the eyes (75.19%), and eye pain (71.06%). The study found that 30.49% were male and 69.51% were female, with an average age of 20.07 ± 0.07 years. It was found that gender (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.14), vision problems (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.20), wearing light-filtering glasses (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.12), average daily smartphone screen time (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.19), avoiding digital devices before sleep (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.22), glare (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.19), wind exposure to the eyes (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.20), and ambient air conditions (p < 0.05, Phi = 0.15) were significantly associated with digital eye strain (p < 0.05); however, the strength of these associations was small (Phi = 0.12–0.22), indicating limited practical impact. Conclusions: Digital eye strain is highly prevalent among university students. Although several factors were statistically associated with digital eye strain, the small effect sizes suggest that each factor contributes only modestly. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of digital eye strain and the importance of considering combined behavioral, environmental, and ergonomic influences.