• POOJA MANDAL
• Dr. SUMAN CHAHAR
• Dr. UMAKANTA ACHARJEE

Introduction: All educational institutes throughout the world including India have been closed since March 2020 to prevent the spread of the corona virus disease (Covid). Online digital study was the only way to continue the student’s educational life. Online study develops dry eye symptoms. Methodology: The study is to determine the prevalence of dry eye symptoms before and after online study during the COVID-19 pandemic and to know the frequency of dry eye, and associated risk factors of online study among the students of secondary and higher secondary level schools, those who are using smart phone for their online classes. The study was conducted in different schools’ students, affiliated by CBSE and TBSE of the capital city Agartala of Tripura in the period of 1st July 2021 to 31st August 2021, by trainee optometrists under the supervision of the author. A door-to-door survey were done maintaining Covid protocols, with Snellen’s visual acuity chart, binocular loupe with torch light, Schirmer’s tear test strips for assessing tear secretion levels before and after attending online classes. Results:144 students were assessing their ocular symptoms before and after attending their online classes in that period. Everyday each student was attending online classes not less than 7 hours including school classes as well as their subject specific extra tuition classes. Girls’ students’ participations were more than boys. 86.81% students had found different types ocular symptoms, like redness, itching, blurring vision, fatigueness, foreign body sensation, burning sensation, headache and eyeache, which are also the symptoms of dry eye. 14.58% students were suffering dry eye symptoms before starting online classes, which was increases 67.36% after finishing their five hours online classes and 19.45% students were suffering severe dry eye symptoms. Conclusions: The study highlights the prevalence of dry eye in relation with online study among secondary and higher secondary level students in the pandemic situation of the COVID-19 period. Students should be encouraged to blink when continuing online study on screens. Avoid keeping the device close to the eyes, and include a healthy vitamin-A related diet or vitamin-A supplement. Sufficient taking of drinking water is necessary. Adequate sleep is also important. Avoid air-conditions room for study. In severe conditions instillation of artificial tear to protect cornea.

covid-19 pandemic; dry eye; secondary and higher secondary students; Agartala; Schirmer’s test;

"Prevalence of dry eye in relation with online study among secondary and higher secondary level students in Agartala", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no.f373-f377, June-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406540.pdf

"Prevalence of dry eye in relation with online study among secondary and higher secondary level students in Agartala", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no. ppf373-f377, June-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406540.pdf