JRSSEM 2022, Vol. 01, No. 9, 1377 – 1385
E-ISSN: 2807 - 6311, P-ISSN: 2807 - 6494
DOI : 10.36418/jrssem.v1i9.159 https://jrssem.publikasiindonesia.id/index.php/jrssem/index
RISK FACTORS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME IN
COMPUTER ENGINEERING STUDENTS, SYIAH
UNIVERSITY OF KUALA
Fonna Indriyani
1*
Saiful Basri
2
Cynthia Wahyu Asrizal
3
1,2,3
Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh
e-mail: fonnaindriyani[email protected]
1
, saiful.basri@gmail.com
2
,
cynthia_wahyuasrizal@unsyiah.ac.id
3
*Correspondence: fonnaindriyani1@gmail.com
Submitted: 23 March 2022, Revised: 05 April 2022, Accepted: 16 April 2022
Abstract. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a collection of symptoms related to computer use
prolonged. This can occur from various factors consisting of individual factors, computer factors
and environmental factors. Computer engineering students are a group of students who use
computers in doing assignments and other activities in daily life. The purpose of this study was to
determine the risk factors for CVS events in students of the Computer Engineering Study Program,
Syiah Kuala University. This research is an observational analytic survey with a cross sectional. The
sample used consisted of 164 students from the 2017-2019 class who were taken by the stratified
random sampling method. Collecting data through self-assessment using a questionnaire.
Statistical test using Chi square test for bivariate and to find out which risk factor is the most
influential, multivariate analysis is used, namely logistic regression analysis. The results showed that
63.4% of Computer Engineering Students at Syiah Kuala University experienced CVS. The factors
that were significantly associated with the incidence of CVS were gender (p=0.03), duration of
computer use (p=0.01) and eye distance to the monitor (p=0.001).
Keywords: risk factors; computer vision syndrome .
Fonna Indriyani, Saiful Basri, Cynthia Wahyu Asrizal
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DOI : 10.36418/jrssem.v1i9.159 https://jrssem.publikasiindonesia.id/index.php/jrssem/index
INTRODUCTION
Modern technological advances have
revolutionized the world and provided
benefits to society because modern
technological devices provide the
information sources they need and are
more easily accessible. This indicates that
someone will spend more time staring at
electronic devices than visual displays
(Noreen et al., 2016); (Kumar et al., 2021).
The development of the era of using
computers, notebooks, tablets,
smartphones and digital devices has
become a routine of daily life. Even people
use it for official work to playing video
games (Altalhi et al., 2020). The use of
technology in education makes a real
transformation in learning methods,
including information and resources for
learning (Abudawood et al., 2020); (Jahan et
al., 2019). There are many benefits of using
digital media to do various things. But
behind the benefits, there are side effects
due to the use of digital media, especially
eye complaints (Widyantara & Puspasari,
2019). This dependence on computers can
cause a very collective eye problem namely
Computer Vision Syndrome.
The American Optometric Association
(AOA) defines Computer Vision Syndrome
(CVS) as "a complex problem of the eye and
vision associated with prolonged
computers". The symptoms of CVS occur
when there is a need to increase the visual
demand and even to exceed the visual
abilities of the person. Although most of
the symptoms of CVS are temporary and
there is no permanent visual impairment,
some people can experience visual
difficulties after work which can reduce
productivity (Sharmila et al., 2019).
Symptoms can be divided into ocular, visual
and musculoskeletal disorders. The first
group consisted of tired eyes, burning and
dry eyes. Then the second group consisted
of blurred and double vision. And the last
group was associated with neck and
shoulder pain (Bartoszek et al., 2019).
The prevalence CVS varies in different
places. The prevalence of CVS symptoms
among computer users in the world ranges
from 25-93%. One study states that CVS is
seen in 70% to 75% of computer users.
Previous research stated that of the 70
million workers who use digital, they spend
an average of 7-9 hours per day and almost
90% of these workers suffer from CVS
(Munshi et al., 2017).
Students can easily find information
and books online so as to reduce the use of
paper-based materials. In addition, some
tasks also require staring at a computer
screen for hours every day (Arif & Alam,
2015). Various symptoms are often seen in
students due to the paradigm shift to
internet studies (Asnifatima et al., 2017).
This is in line with research conducted by
Shantakumari et al which showed that 70%
of students in Saudi Arabia experienced
CVS disorders due to computer use.
Another study conducted by Helmi on
medical students at Malahayati University
which showed that 73.9% of respondents
experienced CVS (Mersha et al., 2020).
Students majoring in Computer
Engineering are one group of students who
use computers longer than other students
in doing assignments or carrying out other
functions.
Awareness and understanding of CVS
risk factors is very important for computer
1379 | Risk Factors Computer Vision Syndrome in Computer Engineering Students, Syiah
University of Kuala
users to know what factors can lead to CVS
complaints. From the description above,
the authors are interested in conducting
research on "Risk Factors for the Incidence
of Computer Vision Syndrome in Computer
Engineering Students at Syiah Kuala
University"
METHODS
The type of this research is
observational analytic with cross sectional
design. The sample used was Syiah Kuala
University Computer Engineering students
from the 2017-2019 class who were taken
by the stratified random sampling method.
The research tools and instruments used
are questionnaires that have been tested
for validity and reliability in previous
studies and have been adapted in
Indonesian. The questionnaire used is a
CVS questionnaire that has been designed
by Segui, Cabrero-Garcia & Crespo et al
which consists of 16 CVS symptoms in the
journal "A Reliable and Valid Questionnaire
Was Developed to Measure Computer Vision
Syndrome at The Workplace".
The data collection method was carried
out by an online survey using a
questionnaire through a google form that
had been prepared after obtaining
approval (permission) from the
respondents as research subjects. Data
collection was carried out on July 28 -
August 8, 2020. The statistical test in this
study used the chi square in a bivariate
manner to see the relationship between
each variable studied in this study. Then
proceed with multivariate analysis to
determine which risk factors are the most
influential using logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This study obtained a sample of 164
students from the 2017-2019 class of
Computer Engineering at Syiah Kuala
University. The characteristics of the
research subjects who were sampled in this
study were grouped by gender, age, class
and CVS diagnosis, which are presented in
Table 1 below.
Table 1. General Characteristics
No.
Characteristics
n
%
1.
Gender
Female
60
36.6%
Male
104
63.4%
2.
Class of
2017
29
17.7%
2018
60
36.6%
2019
75
45.7%
3.
Age
18
24
14, 6%
19
66
40.2%
20
55
33.5%
21
17
10.4%
22
1
0.6%
23
1
0.6%
4.
CVS
Yes
104
63.4%
No
60
36.6%
Fonna Indriyani, Saiful Basri, Cynthia Wahyu Asrizal
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1380
Information: n = total number of frequencies, %= percentage
Respondent characteristics based on
Table 1 above show that the majority of
respondents are men, as many as 104
people (63.4%).respondents consisted of
29 students (17.7%) from the 2017 class, 60
students (36.6%) from the 2018 class and
75 students (45.7%) from the 2019 class
The age of the respondents ranged
from 18 years to 23 years. The age of the
most respondents in this study was 19
years as many as 66 students (40.2%). The
number of respondents who experienced
CVS was more than respondents who did
not experience CVS, namely 104 students
(63.4%).
Table 2. Frequency of CVS Risk Factors
No.
Characteristics
n
%
1.
Duration of Computer Use
<2 hours
51
31.1
2-4 hours
79
48.2
>4 hours
34
20.7
2.
Rest After Using Computer
<5 minutes
127
77.4
>5 minutes
37
22, 6
3.
Wearing Glasses When Using a Computer
Yes
28
17.1
No
136
82.9
4.
Wearing Contact Lenses When Using a Computer
Yes
9
5.5
No
155
94.5
5.
Eye-to-Monitor Distance
cm
86
52.4
5050 cm
78
47.6
Based on table 2 above, it was found
that respondents who used the most
computers with a duration of 2-4 hours
were 79 respondents (48.2%). The number
of students who took a break after using a
computer <5 minutes was more than those
who took a break >5 minutes after using a
computer, namely 127 students (77.4%).
The results of respondents who use
glasses when using a computer are 28
respondents (17.1%) while respondents
who use contact lenses while using a
computer are 9 respondents (5.5%). While
the number of students with the use of eye-
to-monitor distance <50 cm was more than
students with eye-to-monitor use of >50
cm, namely 86 respondents (52.4%).
Table 3. Relationship between Sex and CVS
Sex
CVS
N
%
p
Yes
No
n
%
n
%
Male
59
56.7
45
43.3
104
63.4
0.03
1381 | Risk Factors Computer Vision Syndrome in Computer Engineering Students, Syiah
University of Kuala
Female
45
75
15
25
60
36.6
The results of statistical tests on the sex
variable obtained a p value of 0.03. This
value is less than the value of (p<α). So it
can be concluded that there is a
relationship between gender and the
incidence of CVS in Computer Engineering
Students at Syiah Kuala University. The
results of this study are in line with research
conducted by Eva Mari Arttime et al in
Spain which stated that women contributed
more to the incidence of CVS. There are
several reasons that cause women to
experience more computer vision syndrome
than men, namely women are considered
to be more thorough in doing tasks so that
they require higher concentration than
men. Previous research that supports that
women have a higher risk than men is
physiologically that there are differences in
hormones that play a role in the regulation
of the eye surface and adnexal tissue
(Mantelli et al., 2016).
Table 4. Relation of Duration of Computer Use with CVS
Duration Use Computer
CVS
N
%
p
Yes
No
n
%
N
%
<2 hours
28
54.9
23
45.1
51
31.1
0.01
2-4 hours
47
59.5
32
40, 5
79
48.2
>4 hours
29
85.3
5
14.7
34
20.7
Based on Table 4, it was found that
CVS symptoms were more common in
respondents with a duration of computer
use >4 hours. It can be seen that of the 34
students who used computers with a
duration of >4 hours who experienced
CVS, there were 29 students (85.3%).
Statistical results obtained p value of 0.01.
This value is less than the value of (p<α).
So it can be concluded that there is a
relationship between the duration of
computer use and the incidence of CVS in
Computer Engineering Students at
Syiah Kuala University.
This is in line with the research
conducted by Muchtar on students of the
Faculty of Medicine, Malahayati University
which also stated that there was a
significant relationship between the
duration of computer use and the
incidence of computer vision syndrome.
Longer duration of computer use tends to
lead to longer complaints even after
computer use (Manzoor et al., 2012).
Table 5. Relationship After Using Computer with CVS of Rest
Long Rest After Using
CVS
N
%
p
Yes
No
n
%
n
%
<5 minutes
81
63,8
46
34.8
127
77.4
0,837
>5 minutes
23
62 ,2
14
37,8
37
22,6
Fonna Indriyani, Saiful Basri, Cynthia Wahyu Asrizal
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DOI : 10.36418/jrssem.v1i9.159 https://jrssem.publikasiindonesia.id/index.php/jrssem/index
Based on Table 5 it was found that the
statistical results obtained a p value of
0,778 (p>α). So it can be concluded that
there is no relationship between the
length of rest after using a computer and
the incidence of CVS in Computer
Engineering Students at Syiah Kuala.
In this study, there was no significant
relationship between the length of rest
after computer use and the incidence of
computer vision syndrome. This can occur
when the recall bias from the respondents
when the study was conducted. The results
of this study are different from the research
conducted by Andi on internet cafe
operators in Bogor Regency which stated
that there was a relationship between the
length of rest after using the computer.
(11)
According to a previous study, it was stated
that the length of rest after using the
computer was one of the risk factors for the
incidence of CVS. Longer and more
frequent breaks between computer use can
increase comfort and can relax the eye's
accommodation system.
(11)
Table 6. Correlation between the use of glasses when using computers and CVS
glasses
CVS
N
%
p
Yes
No
n
%
n
%
Yes
22
78.6
6
21.4
28
17.1
0.107
No
82
60.3
54
39.7
136
82 ,9
Based on Table 6, it was found that
the statistical results obtained a p value of
0.107 (p>α). So it can be concluded that
there is no relationship between the use
of glasses when using a computer with
the incidence of CVS in Computer
Engineering Students at Syiah Kuala
University.
The results of the analysis in this study
concluded that there was no significant
relationship between the use of glasses and
the incidence of computer vision syndrome.
In this study, it can be seen that both
students who use or do not use glasses
mostly experience CVS complaints. This
could be due to the inappropriate
reporting of the respondent's visual acuity
because the ophthalmic examination was
not carried out when this research was
conducted. The results of this study are in
line with research conducted by Kanchan
on Computer Engineering students at
Pokhara University in Nepal. However, in
another study, there was a difference
conducted by Edema et al which stated that
there was a significant relationship
between the use of glasses and the
incidence of computer vision syndrome.
(13)
Table 7. Relationship between the use of contact lenses when using computers and CVS
contact lenses
CVS
N
%
p
Yes
No
n
%
n
%
Yes
7
77.8
2
22.2
9
5.5
0.357
No
97
62.6
58
37.4
155
94, 5
Based on Table 7, it was found that
the statistical results obtained a p value of
0.357 (p>α). So it can be concluded that
there is no relationship between the use
of contact lenses when using a computer
with the incidence of CVS in Computer
1383 | Risk Factors Computer Vision Syndrome in Computer Engineering Students, Syiah
University of Kuala
Engineering Students at Syiah Kuala
University.
In this study, it was found that there was
no significant effect between the use of
contact lenses when using a computer on
the incidence of CVS. This happens because
respondents who use contact lenses during
computer use perform proper eye care by
using eye drops regularly. The results of
this study are different from research
conducted by Tauste which states that the
chance of CVS is higher in contact lens
wearers than those who do not use contact
lenses.
(14)
Table 8. Relationship between Eye Distance to Monitor When Using Computer with CVS
Eye Distance to Monitor
CVS
N
%
p
Yes
No
N
%
N
%
< 50 cm
63
73.3
23
26.7
86
52.4
0.01
50 cm
41
52.6
37
47.4
78
47.6
Based on Table 8, it was found that the
statistical results obtained a p-value of 0.01
(p<α). So it can be concluded that there is
a relationship between the distance from
the eye to the monitor when using a
computer with the incidence of Computer
Vision Syndrome in Computer Engineering
Students at Syiah Kuala University.
In this study, there is a relationship
between monitor distance and the
incidence of computer vision syndrome. This
is in line with previous studies. Studies
conducted by Yunitia on employees of PT
Telkom Indonesia in Makassar more CVS
symptoms that arise in individuals with eye
distance to monitor <50 cm. Shorter
viewing distances can increase asthenopia
and affect focusing and accommodation of
the eye (Mersha et al., 2020).
Table 9. Analysis With Logistic Regression
Variable
Exp(B)
95% CI
Sig
Gender
2.056
1.129-4.916
0.022
Duration of Use
2.018
1.221-3.334
0.06
Monitor Distance
0.412
0.209-0.815
0.011
According to the results of multivariate
logistic regression analysis, it can be seen
that the variable that has a greater
influence on the incidence of computer
vision syndrome is the duration of
computer use with a value of 0.06. Duration
of computer use has 2 times the risk of
experiencing computer vision syndrome.
Using a computer for a long time will make
the ciliary muscle contract continuously,
thereby reducing the accommodation
power of the eye.
(1)
Prolonged computer
use or more than 4 hours will increase the
risk of up to 24 times the incidence of CVS
(Ulpah et al., 2017).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results of this study, it can
be concluded that 1) As many as 63.4% of
Syiah Kuala University Computer
Fonna Indriyani, Saiful Basri, Cynthia Wahyu Asrizal
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1384
Engineering students experienced
symptoms of computer vision syndrome.
2) The factors that cause CVS in this study
are: a) Gender has a relationship with the
incidence of computer vision syndrome (p-
value 0.03) at Syiah Kuala University
Computer Engineering Students. b)
Duration of computer use has a
relationship with the incidence of computer
vision syndrome (p-value 0.01) at Syiah
Kuala University Computer Engineering
Students. c) Eye distance to the monitor
has a relationship with the incidence of
computer vision syndrome (p-value 0.001)
in Computer Engineering Students at Syiah
Kuala University. 3) There is no relationship
between the length of rest after using a
computer with the incidence of computer
vision syndrome in Computer Engineering
Students at Syiah Kuala University. 4) There
is no relationship between the use of
glasses when using a computer with the
incidence of computer vision syndrome in
Computer Engineering Students at Syiah
Kuala University. 5) There is no relationship
between the use of glasses when using a
computer with the incidence of computer
vision syndrome in Computer Engineering
Students at Syiah Kuala University. 6)
Duration of computer use is the most
influential variable on the incidence of
computer vision syndrome in Computer
Engineering Students at Syiah Kuala
University.
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for possible open access publication
under the terms and conditions of the Creative
Commons Attribution (CC BY SA) license
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