Computer Vision SyndromeNCT07816419
Yogic Eye Exercises for Computer Vision Syndrome in Female Design Students
A study testing Yogic eye exercise programme in people with Computer Vision Syndrome and Asthenopia, run by King Saud University at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 22 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Computer Vision Syndrome, Asthenopia, Eye Strain
- What is being tested?
- Yogic eye exercise programme
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSaudi Arabia
- Study dates
- 15 Mar 2021to 16 Apr 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 22 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome
- Diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Use of medications known to reduce tear production, for example antihistamines
- Use of isotretinoin
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Saudi Arabia1 site
: Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
Riyadh, 11671
About this study
Official title: Effect of a Four-Week Yogic Eye Exercise Program on Computer Vision Syndrome Symptoms in Female University Students: A Single-Arm Pre-Post Study
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.
Read more
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.
Read the detailed description
Design. Single-arm, pre-post interventional study in which each participant served as her own control, conducted in the Graphic Design and Digital Media programme of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. No control group was recruited and no masking was applied.
Participants. All 36 female students enrolled in the programme were invited and all agreed, so the convenience sample was a complete enumeration of the eligible cohort. The programme admits female students only. All participants were in the 18-22 year age band.
Intervention. Participants were trained in a single supervised group session before baseline and given written and illustrated instructions. Each session comprised relaxation exercises (slow blinking; gazing at a fine detail of a distant target; acupressure massage of periocular points) followed by strengthening exercises (eye-rolling movements; nose-tip gazing, in which the participant focuses on the extended thumb, moves it slowly toward the nose tip, holds for five seconds and moves it away). The combined sequence took approximately 13 minutes and was performed three days per week for four consecutive weeks, giving 12 sessions in total. After the training session participants practised independently and reported completion of each session the same day in a monitored group thread, so adherence was verified session by session rather than recalled at the end.
Assessment. Symptoms were assessed with an adapted electronic questionnaire administered at baseline and at the end of week 4. The instrument was developed by reviewing validated instruments in the literature, refining items with subject-matter experts and pilot testing in six female students. It recorded demographic details, medical history relevant to ocular surface dryness, habitual computer use, and nine symptom items each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = always). The identical instrument and platform were used at both time points.
Analysis. The primary outcome, the total symptom score, and the two domain scores were compared with the paired-samples t-test, with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test reported alongside where normality was not supported; item-level differences were tested with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Because nine item-level comparisons were made, p-values were adjusted by the Holm-Bonferroni procedure. No data were imputed and no subgroup or interaction analyses were performed. No formal a priori sample size calculation was performed; the study enrolled the entire eligible cohort.
Registration. This record was created retrospectively. The study was investigator-initiated and approved by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Institutional Review Board on 20 December 2020, before the first participant was enrolled on 15 March 2021. The design, intervention and outcome measures recorded here are those specified in the approved protocol and are unchanged.
- Conditions
- Computer Vision Syndrome, Asthenopia, Eye Strain, Dry Eye, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain
- Being tested
- Yogic eye exercise programme
- Keywords
- Yoga, Yoga eye exercises, Ocular exercises, Digital eye strain, Screen time, Behavioral intervention, University students, Saudi Arabia
- Medical subject headings
- Asthenopia, Dry Eye Syndromes, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Back Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Yogic eye exercise programmeBehavioural
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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). Receives: Behavioral: Yogic eye exercise programme |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: Baseline and week 4
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change from baseline in ocular symptom domain score at week 4
Mean of five self-reported ocular symptom items - eye dryness, red eye, foreign body sensation, blurred vision and excessive tearing - each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never to 4 = always). The domain score ranges from 1 to 4; lower scores indicate fewer symptoms.
Measured: Baseline and week 4
Change from baseline in muscular symptom domain score at week 4
Mean of four self-reported musculoskeletal symptom items - shoulder pain, back pain, loss of sensation in the fingers and loss of sensation in the hands - each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never to 4 = always). The domain score ranges from 1 to 4; lower scores indicate fewer symptoms.
Measured: Baseline and week 4
Change from baseline in each individual symptom item at week 4
Each of the nine symptom items analysed separately: eye dryness, red eye, foreign body sensation, blurred vision, excessive tearing, shoulder pain, back pain, loss of sensation in the fingers, loss of sensation in the hands. Each is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never to 4 = always); lower scores indicate fewer symptoms.
Measured: Baseline and week 4
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Sep 2026
- Study start15 Mar 2021
- Primary completion16 Apr 2021
- Study completion16 Apr 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Computer Vision SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Single-arm pre-post design; each participant served as her own control.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- King Saud University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nada Aldahlawi, King Saud University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07816419
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KingSaudU_20-0528E
- Other IDs
- 20-0528E
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The de-identified participant-level dataset and the analysis code that support the findings are held by the corresponding author.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of a Four-Week Yogic Eye Exercise Program on Computer Vision Syndrome Symptoms in Female University Students: A Single-Arm Pre-Post Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07816419
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KingSaudU_20-0528E
- Conditions
- Computer Vision Syndrome, Asthenopia, Eye Strain, Dry Eye, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain
- Keywords
- Yoga, Yoga eye exercises, Ocular exercises, Digital eye strain, Screen time, Behavioral intervention, University students, Saudi Arabia
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- King Saud UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
- Study start
- 15 Mar 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Apr 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Apr 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 11 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
Design. Single-arm, pre-post interventional study in which each participant served as her own control, conducted in the Graphic Design and Digital Media programme of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. No control group was recruited and no masking was applied.
Participants. All 36 female students enrolled in the programme were invited and all agreed, so the convenience sample was a complete enumeration of the eligible cohort. The programme admits female students only. All participants were in the 18-22 year age band.
Intervention. Participants were trained in a single supervised group session before baseline and given written and illustrated instructions. Each session comprised relaxation exercises (slow blinking; gazing at a fine detail of a distant target; acupressure massage of periocular points) followed by strengthening exercises (eye-rolling movements; nose-tip gazing, in which the participant focuses on the extended thumb, moves it slowly toward the nose tip, holds for five seconds and moves it away). The combined sequence took approximately 13 minutes and was performed three days per week for four consecutive weeks, giving 12 sessions in total. After the training session participants practised independently and reported completion of each session the same day in a monitored group thread, so adherence was verified session by session rather than recalled at the end.
Assessment. Symptoms were assessed with an adapted electronic questionnaire administered at baseline and at the end of week 4. The instrument was developed by reviewing validated instruments in the literature, refining items with subject-matter experts and pilot testing in six female students. It recorded demographic details, medical history relevant to ocular surface dryness, habitual computer use, and nine symptom items each rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = always). The identical instrument and platform were used at both time points.
Analysis. The primary outcome, the total symptom score, and the two domain scores were compared with the paired-samples t-test, with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test reported alongside where normality was not supported; item-level differences were tested with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Because nine item-level comparisons were made, p-values were adjusted by the Holm-Bonferroni procedure. No data were imputed and no subgroup or interaction analyses were performed. No formal a priori sample size calculation was performed; the study enrolled the entire eligible cohort.
Registration. This record was created retrospectively. The study was investigator-initiated and approved by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Institutional Review Board on 20 December 2020, before the first participant was enrolled on 15 March 2021. The design, intervention and outcome measures recorded here are those specified in the approved protocol and are unchanged.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Single-arm pre-post design; each participant served as her own control.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Yogic eye exercise programme | Experimental | Behavioral: Yogic eye exercise programmeAll 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). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 22 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome
- Diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- Use of medications known to reduce tear production, for example antihistamines
- Use of isotretinoin
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Yogic eye exercise programmeA 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. | Behavioural | Yogic eye exercise programme |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in total symptom score at week 4
Time frame: Baseline and 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.
3 secondary outcomes
Change from baseline in ocular symptom domain score at week 4
Time frame: Baseline and week 4
Change from baseline in muscular symptom domain score at week 4
Time frame: Baseline and week 4
Change from baseline in each individual symptom item at week 4
Time frame: Baseline and week 4
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The de-identified participant-level dataset and the analysis code that support the findings are held by the corresponding author.
Related trials for Computer Vision Syndrome
Not yet recruiting
Comparative Effects of Exercises on Pain, Cervical Proprioception, Neck Disability and Visual Performance in Patients With Computer Vision Syndrome.
Computer Vision Syndrome
Not yet recruiting
A Study of Full-Spectrum Screen Lighting for Reducing Screen-Related Eye Fatigue and Dry Eye
Visual Fatigue, Dry Eye
RecruitingObservational study
Longevity Metrics AI/ML Development Study
Aging, Mortality
Not yet recruitingObservational study
A Computer-Assisted Tool for Objective Assessment of Extrapyramidal Symptoms
Extrapyramidal Symptoms, Drug-induced Parkinsonism
Not yet recruiting
AI and Computer Vision-Assisted Telerehabilitation in Fibromyalgia: The FibroIA 2.0 Trial
Fibromyalgia, Fibromyalgia (FM)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Yogic eye exercise programme in people with Computer Vision Syndrome and Asthenopia, run by King Saud University at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Saudi Arabia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from baseline in total symptom score at week 4 (time frame: Baseline and week 4). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Sep 2026.