Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

  • Volume 35
  • /
  • Pages.1.1-1.11
  • /
  • 2023
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  • 1225-3618(pISSN)
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  • 2052-4374(eISSN)
The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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The relationship between visual display terminal usage at work and symptoms related to computer vision syndrome

  • Soonsu Shin (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital) ;
  • Eun Hye Yang (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital) ;
  • Hyo Choon Lee (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital) ;
  • Seong Ho Moon (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital) ;
  • Jae-Hong Ryoo (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
  • Received : 2022.06.20
  • Accepted : 2022.12.07
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Background: Although it is well known that the usage of visual display terminal (VDT) at the workplace causes computer vision syndrome (CVS), previous studies mainly focused on computer use and the health of white-collar workers. In this study, we explored the relationship between the usage of VDT including various devices, and symptoms related to CVS in a large population including pink-collar workers and blue-collar workers. Methods: 21,304 wage workers over the age of 20 years were analyzed from the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey. To investigate the association between VDT use at work and symptoms related to CVS among wage workers, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by multivariate logistic regression models. Results: In the group with the highest VDT usage at work, the OR of headache/eyestrain was 2.16 (95% CI: 1.86-2.52). The OR of suspected CVS patients was significantly increased in the highest group of usage of VDT at work (OR: 1.69; 95% CI, 1.39-2.06). Compare with the reference group, the OR for headache/eyestrain in the highest group of VDT usage was 2.81 (95% CI: 2.13-3.70) in white-collar workers, 1.78 (95% CI: 1.32-2.40) in pink-collar workers, and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.18-2.15) in blue-collar workers. Conclusions: We observed a relationship in which the use of VDT in the workplace increases the risk of headache/eyestrain regardless of occupational classification. Our findings emphasize the importance of paying attention to the health of VDT workers and making plans to improve their working conditions.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the participants and researchers of Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).

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