From the Ocular Surface to Neurophysiology: An Integrative Review of Digital Eye Strain
Abstract
Digital eye strain is a cross-system condition that arises from interactions between visual physiology and digital displays. As the use of screens has grown in work, education, and everyday life, researchers have sought to describe this condition through symptom questionnaires (CVS‑Q, CVSS17, DESQ), measurements of the ocular surface and blinking, tests of accommodation and vergence, and, in related visual fatigue studies, neurophysiological methods such as electromyography and electroencephalography (EEG). Nevertheless, these methods have usually examined individual mechanisms separately. Interventions-ranging from lubricating the ocular surface and filtering blue light to ergonomic changes, task‑specific refractive correction, and scheduled micro‑breaks-have seldom been guided by a unified mechanistic framework. This review compiles evidence from 128 studies to identify six mechanistic domains relevant for clinical assessment. These include ocular surface and blink dynamics, accommodation and vergence, musculoskeletal load, device-related optical stress, cognitive load, and neural markers. A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was carried out through September 30th, 2025, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included randomized trials, controlled interventions, cohort studies, and laboratory experiments, with methodological quality evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results across pediatric, adolescent,…
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