Total score of the computer vision syndrome questionnaire predicts refractive errors and binocular vision anomalies

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the total computer vision syndrome questionnaire (CVS-Q) score as a predictive tool for identifying individuals with symptomatic binocular vision anomalies and refractive errors. METHODS: A total of 141 healthy computer users underwent comprehensive clinical visual function assessments, including evaluations of refractive errors, accommodation (amplitude of accommodation, positive relative accommodation, negative relative accommodation, accommodative accuracy, and accommodative facility), and vergence (phoria, positive and negative fusional vergence, near point of convergence, and vergence facility). Total CVS-Q scores were recorded to explore potential associations between symptom scores and the aforementioned clinical visual function parameters. RESULTS: The cohort included 54 males (38.3%) with a mean age of 23.9±0.58y and 87 age-matched females (61.7%) with a mean age of 23.9±0.53y. The multiple regression model was statistically significant [R²=0.60, F=13.28, degrees of freedom (DF=17 122, P<0.001]. This indicates that 60% of the variance in total CVS-Q scores (reflecting reported symptoms) could be explained by four clinical measurements: amplitude of accommodation, positive relative accommodation, exophoria at distance and near, and positive fusional vergence at near. CONCLUSION: The total CVS-Q score is a valid and reliable tool for predicting the presence of various non-strabismic binocular vision anomalies and refractive errors in symptomatic computer users.