Allen Akhahowa

—This study was undertaken to assess the visual symptoms complaints among computer users in Industrially Developing Countries(IDCs) using the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, as a case study. The focus was on Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT)-based Visual Display Units (VDUs). A total of 121 copies of structured questionnaires were administered to frequent computer users between the ages of 10 and 35 years (not having presbyopia) with exclusion criteria of magnitude +1 hyperopia. One hundred and three (103) completed questionnaires were returned and analyzed. Three (3) visual symptoms namely: eyestrain, blurred distance vision and headache were used in the study since these symptoms lead to the occurrence of other symptoms like red eyes, double vision etc. Only severities of moderate and severe were used while mild cases were considered to be very close to no occurrence. We then used number of hours, level of computer room illumination and screen contrast, viewing in determining visual symptoms occurrences. Our findings in this study revealed that proper computer workplace illumination, screen contrast, work interval before break, viewing distances and viewing angles during computer work go a long way in preventing the occurrence of visual symptoms thus, the need for proper computer workplace ergonomics.