Determining the minimum time required for behavior modification in screen comfort practices among collegiate students with digital eye strain A Pilot Study

prospective pre–post interventional pilot study was conducted among 38 collegiate students aged 18–25 years who had screen time exceeding 4 hours per day. Participants were recruited through convenient sampling from SRM College of Physiotherapy. Initial screening for digital eye strain was performed using the CVS-Smart Questionnaire.

Eligible participants were divided into an experimental and a control group. Baseline assessment of symptoms and screen-use behavior was recorded using the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS-Q) and a self-developed adherence checklist.

The experimental group received the Screen Comfort Behavior Modification Intervention, which included:

training in the 20-20-20 micro-break rule,

blink awareness exercises,

ergonomic correction of screen position, and

posture and eye relaxation exercises.

Intervention was delivered as a single structured education session followed by daily practice for four weeks, with weekly motivational support and adherence monitoring. The control group received only a single session of general education without follow-up reinforcement.

After completion of 4 weeks, post-test assessment was carried out using the same outcome measures. Pre- and post-intervention scores were compared to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing digital eye strain symptoms.