Validation of the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire and pilot application to online gaming addicts

Abstract

Introduction: 'Digital eye strain' (DES) is a clinical syndrome with eyesight symptoms related to continuous engagement in front of a screen-enabled digital device. With use of these devices constantly on the rise, the related symptoms have become prominent, even in younger ages. This study describes the process of validating the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire (DESQ), a thirteen-item self-report scale in a yes-no format designed to offer a measure of complaints related to digital eye strain syndrome (DES).

Methods: The validation process included 150 outpatients with no long-standing eye disease who were examined for various eye complaints and 50 outpatients who were diagnosed with gaming addiction according to WHO ICD-11 clinical criteria. All participants filled in a demographics questionnaire, the DESQ, the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q) and the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-9 (PIUQ-9).

Results: Principal component analysis of categorical variables confirmed the proposed three-factor DES structure with a total of 61.02% of explained variance and Cronbach's alpha equal to.94. Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing the results of the DESQ to the CVS-Q while convergent validity was assessed by examining correlations of the DESQ with results from the PIUQ-9 questionnaire. In all cases the DESQ demonstrated excellent reliability and validity.

Conclusions: Results indicate that the DESQ questionnaire can be employed to reliably measure the symptomatology of digital eye strain in clinical populations who present either with eye issues or with excessive use of the gaming and screen-enabled devices in general.

Keywords: anterior segment disease (includes cataract) < PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY; diagnostic techniques < GLAUCOMA; diseases of the ocular surface < CORNEA / EXTERNAL DISEASE; examination techniques < CORNEA / EXTERNAL DISEASE; preventive medicine/screening < SOCIOECONOMICS AND EDUCATION IN MEDICINE/OPHTHALMOLOGY.