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An Investigation of the Psychosocial Outcomes of Dry Eye Disease Treatment in Children with Computer Vision Syndrome
Rahime Duygu Temeltürk1,2, Ali Mert Koçer3, Ece Özal4
1Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ankara, Türkiye.
Insights
Treating dry eye disease (DED) in children with computer vision syndrome (CVS) significantly improved their quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression. Improved ocular surface health correlated with better psychological outcomes in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Psychology
Background:
- Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is prevalent in children and linked to dry eye disease (DED).
- The psychological impact of CVS-related DED in pediatric populations remains understudied.
- Existing research highlights psychopathology in adult DED patients, but pediatric data is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess psychological outcomes in children with CVS-related DED before and after treatment.
- To investigate the relationship between DED severity and psychological well-being in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the efficacy of artificial tear drops in managing CVS-induced DED and its psychosocial effects.
Main Methods:
- 38 children diagnosed with CVS-related DED underwent ocular assessments (Schirmer test, tear break-up time, OSDI, Oxford grading).
- Psychological status was evaluated using quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression self-report scales.
- Ocular and psychological parameters were reassessed after treatment with artificial tear drops.
Main Results:
- Post-treatment, significant improvements were observed in tear break-up time and Schirmer test values, with a decrease in OSDI scores (p<0.001).
- Pediatric patients reported reduced anxiety and depression symptoms and increased QoL functionality scores (p<0.05).
- Positive correlations were found between Schirmer test results and anxiety scores (r=-0.32, p=0.045) and QoL total scores (r=0.38, p=0.016).
Conclusions:
- Treatment for DED in children with CVS led to enhanced quality of life and reduced psychological distress.
- Improved ocular surface parameters, specifically Schirmer test results, were associated with better psychological outcomes.
- Effective DED management can mitigate the psychosocial burden of CVS in pediatric patients.
Objectives:
Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a common disorder among children and is often associated with dry eye disease (DED). While researchers have shown a higher prevalence of psychopathology in older patients with DED, the impact of CVS-induced DED on the psychological state of children is not well known. This study aimed to evaluate psychological outcomes before and after DED treatment in pediatric patients with CVS-related DED.
Materials And Methods:
In this study, a total of 38 children (32 girls, 6 boys) with CVS-related DED were evaluated with the Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and Oxford grading scale at the time of diagnosis and after treatment with artificial tear drops. Additionally, quality of life (QoL) and anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using self-report scales for children.
Results:
The mean age and mean daily screen exposure of the patients were 13.95±2.42 years and 5.65±2.31 hours, respectively. After treatment, TBUT and Schirmer test values of the patients increased significantly, while OSDI values decreased (p<0.001 for all). The anxiety and depression scores of the patients decreased, while QoL functionality scores increased (p<0.05 for all) following treatment. There were significant correlations between Schirmer test values and anxiety scores (r=-0.32, p=0.045) and QoL total scores (r=0.38, p=0.016).
Conclusion:
Enhanced QoL and decreased anxiety and depression scores were associated with improved Schirmer test results, indicating that appropriate DED treatment may mitigate the psychosocial effects of CVS-related DED in pediatric patients.
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