Subjective Evaluation of Effects of Vision Risk Factors Related to the Use of Electronic Devices by Students

Abstract

Introduction: The excessive use of electronic devices may induce visual impairment. Our objective was to get and analyze a subjective evaluation of effects of digital devices on vision with account for hygienic principles of protecting the eyesight based on the results of an online survey of 568 students from Russia and Belarus. Material and methods: We conducted an online questionnaire survey of 498 university students from the Russian Federation and 70 students from the Republic of Belarus to analyze their subjective evaluation of the impact of behavioral risk factors on health and vision. Results: More than half (53.9%) of the respondents rated their health as “good” and 28.3% as “satisfactory”. Vision was considered “excellent” by 25.9% of the respondents while 22.5%, 26.8%, and 24.8% of the students assessed their vision as “good”, “satisfactory”, and “bad”, respectively. The average subjective vision risk values ranged from 6 to 8 points. The majority of the respondents reported that the main sources of information about eyesight protection included the Internet (80%) and the opinion of teachers (70%) and medical workers (67%). Conclusions: The students adequately assessed both health and vision risks of behavioral factors. Yet, good awareness of the damaging effect of digital devices on eyes did not influence the temptation of their use in adverse conditions for the eyesight. We identified a risk group including almost 30% of the respondents characterized by a careless attitude to health and neglect of hygienic principles of eyesight protection. University teachers should take into account the fact that students consider their opinion to be significant for the development of health-saving competencies of young people.