Yogic Eye Exercises for Computer Vision Syndrome in Female Design Students

NCT07816419 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: KingSaudU_20-0528E20-0528E
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a cluster of eye and musculoskeletal complaints - dryness, redness, blurred vision, foreign body sensation, excessive tearing, and neck, shoulder or back pain - that arises from prolonged work at a digital display. It is common among university students, and optical, pharmacological and nutritional treatments have given inconsistent results. Yoga-based eye exercises have been proposed as a brief, inexpensive alternative that requires no equipment. This study tested whether a short, structured programme of yogic eye exercises reduces self-reported CVS symptoms in female undergraduates in a graphic design and digital media programme, a group whose coursework demands sustained, colour-critical near work at a screen. All 36 female students enrolled in the programme took part. Each attended one supervised training session and then performed a 13-minute sequence of relaxation exercises (slow blinking, gazing at a distant target, acupressure around the eyes) and strengthening exercises (eye rolling, nose-tip gazing) three days a week for four weeks, a total of 12 sessions, reporting completion of each session on the same day. Nine symptoms - five ocular and four musculoskeletal - were rated on a four-point scale (never, rarely, sometimes, always) at the start and again at the end of week 4. The main question was whether the average of all nine ratings fell over the four weeks. Every participant served as her own comparison; there was no control group and no masking.

Conditions

Asthenopia; Eye Strain; Dry Eye; Neck Pain; Back Pain; Computer Vision Syndrome; Shoulder Pain

Keywords

Yoga; Yoga eye exercises; Ocular exercises; Digital eye strain; Screen time; Behavioral intervention; University students; Saudi Arabia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change from baseline in total symptom score at week 4

  Arithmetic mean of all nine self-reported symptom items - five ocular (eye dryness, red eye, foreign body sensation, blurred vision, excessive tearing) and four musculoskeletal (shoulder pain, back pain, loss of sensation in the fingers, loss of sensation in the hands) - each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = always). The total score ranges from 1 to 4; lower scores indicate fewer symptoms. Collected by self-completed electronic questionnaire.

  Baseline and week 4

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change from baseline in ocular symptom domain score at week 4

  Baseline and week 4

• Change from baseline in muscular symptom domain score at week 4

  Baseline and week 4

• Change from baseline in each individual symptom item at week 4

  Baseline and week 4

Other Outcomes (1)

• Baseline screen-use behaviour

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Yogic eye exercise programme

EXPERIMENTAL

All participants received the same intervention: a 13-minute session of yogic relaxation and strengthening eye exercises, performed three days per week for four consecutive weeks (12 sessions).

Behavioral: Yogic eye exercise programme

Interventions

Yogic eye exercise programme BEHAVIORAL

A 13-minute sequence performed three days per week for four consecutive weeks (12 sessions in total). Relaxation component: slow blinking; gazing at a fine detail of a distant target; acupressure massage of periocular points. Strengthening component: eye-rolling movements; nose-tip gazing (focus on the extended thumb, move it slowly toward the nose tip, hold five seconds, move away; repeat twice, approximately 25 seconds per cycle). Delivery: one supervised group training session before baseline, written and illustrated instructions, then independent home practice with same-day reporting of each completed session in a monitored group thread.

Yogic eye exercise programme

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 22 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: The academic programme in which the study was conducted admits female students only, so no male participants were available.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female undergraduate enrolled in the Graphic Design and Digital Media programme at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
• Use of a computer for at least one month before the study
• Able to read and understand English
• Provided written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome
• Diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• Use of medications known to reduce tear production, for example antihistamines
• Use of isotretinoin

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King Saud University: lead
• Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University

Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asthenopia; Dry Eye Syndromes; Neck Pain; Shoulder Pain; Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Eye Diseases; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr.

Model Details: Single-arm pre-post design; each participant served as her own control.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 7, 2026
• First Posted: September 11, 2026
• Study Start: March 15, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 16, 2021
• Study Completion: April 16, 2021
• Last Updated: September 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Available on request from the date of publication, indefinitely.
• Access Criteria: Requests should be directed to the corresponding author and will be considered on reasonable scientific grounds.

Locations

SA (1)