Computer vision syndrome is associated with both migraine and insomnia, reveals study!

According to the findings of a recent study, having computer vision syndrome (CVS) and being under more stress both substantially elevates the likelihood of getting a migraine, with stress serving as a mediator in the relationship between migraine and CVS as well as between insomnia and CVS. More than 700 adults were given an online questionnaire by the researchers, and 71% of them had CVS, a disorder characterized by eye issues triggered by prolonged use of digital devices. Additional preventative measures include utilizing screen filters, adjusting the brightness of the screen to lighting of the room, and adhering to proper ergonomics.

Visual display terminals and computers are becoming indispensable components of our daily lives. However, more screen usage may cause harmful health conditions, including eye problems known as CVS. Additionally, CVS has become a significant public health concern as a result of the rise in online education owing to COVID-19. Long-term use of digital gadgets can trigger a broad range of symptoms, such as finger or hand numbness, shoulder or neck pain, backaches, pain in the eye, headaches, double or blurred vision, and itchiness.  Frequent computer usage might cause sleeplessness.

In addition, the "blue light" that computers generate can disrupt the normal circadian rhythm, leading to sleeplessness and digital eyestrain. Another migraine trigger and a risk factor for the emergence of chronic migraine from episodic migraine is stress. Stressful life circumstances might also stimulate insomnia. Using a computer in daily life has become necessary. The occurrence of CVS is also rising in other groups. Among computer users, bringing this illness to light would make it easier to put preventative measures in place and reduce the high occurrence of CVS.

All users of digital devices were given an online survey by the researchers, and collection of data occurred while the COVID-19 lockdown was being enforced by the government. A snowball sampling method was used to enroll 749 research subjects (65.6% females, mean age of 24 years)  which involved sending links to others via email and WhatsApp. Subjects were also asked to share the link with others who had digital gadgets. Questionnaire included both semi-open and closed questions encompassing Beirut Distress Scale (BDS-10), Lebanese Insomnia Scale (LIS-18), Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), Computer Vision Syndrome Scale, which measures 16 symptoms associated with improper computer use, how many hours the subjects had spent on the device overall, how the computer screens were used by the subjects, ocular health issues, and sociodemographic details.

According to the results, 70.5% of subjects had CVS. The most upsetting ocular symptom, according to 34% of respondents, was headache. Eye burning came second at 10.8%. Backache and neck pain were the two extraocular symptoms that caused the most concern (33.4% and 43.3%, respectively). The researchers discovered that much more females than males reported insomnia, after examining risk factors for it. Participants with worse migraine disability, a higher Household Crowding Index, stress, CVS, and higher levels of education had increased insomnia. Insomnia score was used as the dependent variable in a multivariable analysis using a linear regression model.

As found, the presence of CVS (β = 3.26) was substantially linked with a greater risk of insomnia. The investigators also assessed the risk variables for migraine. It was discovered that a greater proportion of volunteers with migraine were females than males (51.3% vs. 41.5%, respectively) and had no CVS vs CVS (35.7% vs. 53.8%). A noteworthy finding was that migraine people had a greater mean stress score than people with lower stress scores (13.90 vs 9.92, respectively). As demonstrated in Table 1, CVS and greater stress were strongly linked to increased chances of migraine.

A mediation study revealed that stress significantly reduced the correlations between CVS and sleeplessness, and CVS and migraine by 80% and 52.8%, respectively. The research may help medical professionals manage insomnia. Doctors can cure insomnia without the use of drugs by concentrating on the fact that the usage of computer just before bed, especially when dealing with stressful life events, is connected with insomnia. Additionally, the discovery that screen headache is the most vexing CVS symptom will assist doctors in treating headaches without the use of drugs by recommending prophylactic measures such as wearing blue light filters when working on the computer screen.

Stress, a major risk factor for migraine, may cause poor posture while working at a computer. Over time, this may activate trigger points in shoulder and neck muscles that can elicit migraine. Increased stress levels might make the link between CVS and migraines stronger. The likelihood that CVS causes migraine increases with the severity of the stress. It is pivotal to comprehend the link between screen time and migraines since it may be changed.

To lessen the risk of CVS triggering migraine episodes, blue light filtering glasses should be used, screen time before night should be avoided, and screen time should be reduced if feasible. The study was associational and did not prove a link between CVS and migraine. By educating patients about the value of taking breaks while working on the computer, this study will assist practising doctors to prevent CVS. The connection between screen time and migraine should be studied more in the future.