Abstract
<p>Introduction: The use of electronic devices is paramount in daily life worldwide, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has increased significantly, forcing students to take virtual classes, thereby increasing the prevalence of asthenopia.Objective: to determine the prevalence of asthenopia reported in the literature in schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 years due to the use of digital screens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research Method: A qualitative systematic review was conducted using the PECO question. The literature search was performed in databases, using search equations constructed with keywords from DeCS and MeSH, free terms in English and Spanish, and Boolean operators. Articles published between 2020 and 2022 were included. Methodological quality was assessed using tools such as Newcastle-Ottawa and AMSTAR. Articles included review articles, case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies addressing the prevalence of asthenopia due to electronic device use in schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review report was conducted based on the PRISMA statement. Results: The prevalence of asthenopia reported by the reviewed studies ranged from 49.28% to 69.84% in the school population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common symptoms were dry eyes, headache, burning, and eye discomfort. The time spent using these devices increased, and, on the other hand, ergonomic factors were associated with these symptoms. Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates a worldwide increase in the prevalence of asthenopia. Identified causes for the development of this digital visual fatigue include visual demand, working proximity, lighting, prolonged use of digital screens, reduced blink rate, and the use of small screens. Keywords: School, prevalence, computer, asthenopia.</p>References
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Keywords
computer
asthenopia
digital screens
digital eye strain