Incidence of and contributors to asthenopia among operators of medium and large-sized unmanned aerial vehicles in Air Force

ZHENG Yuanjing; ZHANG Qiaoyue; YANG Minghao; GAO Chuanmin; CHANG Le; LI Jie; AN Huaijie; GAO Xuhui; QIN Haochen; LIU Yong; HE Zhen

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2097-1753.2025.05.001

Abstract：Objective To investigate the incidence of asthenopia among operators of medium and large-sized unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)in the Air Force and analyze its influencing factors.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out.The Asthenopia Survey Scale(ASS)were used to survey 78 operators of medium and large-sized UAVs from the Air Force Units stationed in plateau areas in 2024.Based on the ASS scores,the subjects were divided into 2 groups:the asthenopia group(total score ≥15 points)and the non-asthenopia group(total score＜15 points).The occurrence of asthenopia was analyzed,and univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression were used to identify the influencing factors of asthenopia.Results A total of 76 valid questionnaires were collected.Among the subjects,22 operators had asthenopia(total score ≥15 points),resulting in an asthenopia incidence rate of 28.95％.Among all items in the scale,8 items had a detection rate of ≥80％,which were as follows:Item A:"Do you have symptoms of asthenopia"(90.90％);Item B:"Does asthenopia affect your study,work,or life"(81.82％);Item 1:"Do you feel discomfort around the eyes"(95.45％);Item 2:"Do you have dry eyes"(95.45％);Item 3:"Do you have eye pain such as stabbing pain or distending pain"(86.36％);Item 5:"Do you have sore eyes"(86.36％);Item 6:"Do you feel tightness in the eyes"(81.82％);Item 8:"When using electronic devices such as mobile phones or computers,does the screen brightness cause eye discomfort"(81.82％).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that two factors were identified as risk factors for asthenopia:"Dry eyes"(OR=6.101,95％CI:1.549-24.031);"Reduced reading speed due to eye symptoms"(OR=12.741,95％CI:1.990-81.569).Conclusion Asthenopia symptoms are relatively prevalent among medium and large-sized UAV operators in the Air Force,primarily manifested as dry eyes and reduced reading speed due to eye symptoms.Dry eyes are the lead contributing factor to asthenopia.