Prolonged Screen Time and Dry Eye Disease: Evidence from Hospital Employees in Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) Hospital

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the tear film and ocular surface, causing discomfort, visual disturbances, and tear film instability with potential ocular surface damage. The prevalence of DED among visual display terminal (VDT) users ranges from 9.5% to 87.5%. Prolonged VDT use reduces blink frequency and contributes to DED. Objective: To determine the association between VDT usage duration and DED among employees of Muhammadiyah University Hospital, Malang.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical observational study included 223 employees. Data were collected using validated questionnaires, including the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and VDT usage habits. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS v26 using univariate and bivariate tests. Results: The majority of respondents (79.4%) used VDTs for >4 hours daily. Most respondents (47.1%) experienced severe DED, followed by moderate (24.2%) and mild cases (20.6%). A significant positive correlation was found between VDT duration and DED (p = 0.000, r = 0.249). Employees with VDT use >4 hours daily were more likely to develop severe DED symptoms. Conclusion: Longer VDT usage is significantly associated with increased severity of DED among hospital employees. Preventive strategies, such as ergonomic interventions, protective filters, and scheduled breaks, are recommended to mitigate the risk of DED.