Relationship between low-frequency electromagnetic field and computer vision syndrome

PAPER manual 2023 Cross-sectional study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202303_31541 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Relationship between low-frequency electromagnetic field and computer vision syndrome Kösek O, Mete B, Öcal I, Yar K, Demirhindi H, Tokuş M. Relationship between low-frequency electromagnetic field and computer vision syndrome. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023 Mar;27(5):1801-1807. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202303_31541. Abstract Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among secretaries working in different departments of a university hospital in Turkey and its relationship with low-frequency electromagnetic field (LF-EMF) exposure. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study included 143 secretaries working in different departments of the hospital. Besides eye examinations, CVS Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q) Scale and Ocular Surface Disease Index Scale (OSDI) were applied to the participants. LF-EMF of the work environment were measured with a 6010 Gauss/Teslameter device and the light intensity with an LX-1102 Device. Results: The mean age of participants was 39.6 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 25.2% to 74.8%. CVS-Q scale revealed 83.9% of computer vision syndrome among participants. A weak positive correlation was found between CVS-Q and LF-EMF, while a moderately strong, negative correlation was found between LF-EMF and Schirmer test of both eyes. The work environment LF-EMF values were significantly higher among the participants diagnosed with CVS (p<0.05). The risk of CVS was found to increase 3.27 times when the ambient LF-EMF was >1,725 µT and an increase of 0.004 units in the CVS-Q score was calculated for each one-unit increase in the LF-EMF of the environment. Conclusions: A relationship between CVS, dry eye and EMF was observed among people exposed to LF-EMF. Regular measurement of EMF in work environments, and developing protective behaviours (work-break intervals, 20-20-20 rule, etc.) can be recommended. Open access paper: europeanreview.org

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Cross-sectional study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Secretaries working in different departments of a university hospital in Turkey

Sample size

143

Exposure

ELF occupational

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Among 143 hospital secretaries, CVS prevalence by CVS-Q was 83.9%. CVS-Q showed a weak positive correlation with measured workplace LF-EMF, and LF-EMF showed a moderately strong negative correlation with Schirmer test results in both eyes. Workplace LF-EMF values were significantly higher in participants diagnosed with CVS (p<0.05), and CVS risk was reported as 3.27 times higher when ambient LF-EMF was >1,725 µT; CVS-Q score increased by 0.004 units per one-unit increase in LF-EMF.

Outcomes measured

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) prevalence
CVS-Q score
Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)
Schirmer test (dry eye)
Eye examination findings (unspecified)

Limitations

Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
Single occupational group and single hospital setting (generalizability unclear)
Specific LF-EMF frequency characteristics not reported
Potential confounding factors not described in abstract

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.86)
Study measures workplace LF-EMF exposure among hospital secretaries and relates it to health outcomes.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "occupational",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Secretaries working in different departments of a university hospital in Turkey",
    "sample_size": 143,
    "outcomes": [
        "Computer vision syndrome (CVS) prevalence",
        "CVS-Q score",
        "Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)",
        "Schirmer test (dry eye)",
        "Eye examination findings (unspecified)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Among 143 hospital secretaries, CVS prevalence by CVS-Q was 83.9%. CVS-Q showed a weak positive correlation with measured workplace LF-EMF, and LF-EMF showed a moderately strong negative correlation with Schirmer test results in both eyes. Workplace LF-EMF values were significantly higher in participants diagnosed with CVS (p<0.05), and CVS risk was reported as 3.27 times higher when ambient LF-EMF was >1,725 µT; CVS-Q score increased by 0.004 units per one-unit increase in LF-EMF.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
        "Single occupational group and single hospital setting (generalizability unclear)",
        "Specific LF-EMF frequency characteristics not reported",
        "Potential confounding factors not described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "low-frequency electromagnetic field",
        "LF-EMF",
        "ELF",
        "computer vision syndrome",
        "CVS-Q",
        "OSDI",
        "Schirmer test",
        "dry eye",
        "occupational exposure",
        "hospital secretaries",
        "workplace measurement",
        "Turkey"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
            "reason": "Study measures workplace LF-EMF exposure among hospital secretaries and relates it to health outcomes."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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