COVID-19 and Telework: the effects of visual display units on vision in the spotlight. A bibliometric overview

Authors

Keywords:

telework, virtual education, computer vision syndrome, visual display unit, COVID-19, visual health.

Abstract

The virtualization of office-work and education activities under contributed to a substantial increase on the use of digital devices with screens (computers, smartphones and tablets), with the consequent implications in terms of risks associated with prolonged exposure to visual display units. This study aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on telework, visual health, and computer vision syndrome to understand the impact of increased screen time due to telework and virtual education on visual health. The Scopus database was utilized to retrieve relevant publications. The search included 4615 documents on telework, 368 on visual health, and 369 on computer vision syndrome. The analysis focused on identifying trends and the volume of research over time, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before 2020, telework and its associated visual health issues were underexplored by the scientific community. The pandemic resulted in a significant increase in publications, particularly regarding telework and computer vision syndrome. The bibliometric analysis revealed a strong connection between COVID-19, occupational health, and visual health topics. Despite the increased attention, computer vision syndrome remains an emerging topic with limited scientific evidence. The sudden shift to remote work and online education during the lockdown put in the spotlight the potential risks of the prolonged exposure to visual display units. In this sense, continued investigation is required to understand the long-term implications of excessive screen use on visual health, including the effects of blue-light radiation and the potential increase in myopia, and their impacts on occupational health.

Author Biographies

Paula Pérez-Espinel, Conestoga College, School of Health & Life Sciences. ON, Canada.

School of Health & Life Sciences.

Howard Ramírez-Malule, Universidad del Valle, Escuela de Ingeniería Química. Cali, Colombia.

Profesor Titular Universidad del Valle

David Gómez-Ríos, Universidad del Valle, Escuela de Ingeniería Química. Cali, Colombia.

Profesor Asociado Universidad del Valle

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Published

2024-11-19

How to Cite

1.
Pérez-Espinel P, Ramírez-Malule H, Gómez-Ríos D. COVID-19 and Telework: the effects of visual display units on vision in the spotlight. A bibliometric overview. Rev. cuba. inf. cienc. salud [Internet]. 2024 Nov. 19 [cited 2024 Dec. 24];35. Available from: https://acimed.sld.cu/index.php/acimed/article/view/2514

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Section

Sección temática: Ciencias de la información y COVID-19