Abstract
Purpose::
To investigate the efficacy of interventions designed to treat computer vision syndrome: artificial tears and isolation techniques i.e. Micro-Environment Glasses (MEGsTM)
Methods::
Computer users greater than 15 hours each week were classified as either symptomatic or control from their OSDI score. Subjects underwent a baseline evaluation including tear breakup time (TBUT), fluorescein staining (FS), lissamine green staining (LGS), measurement of conjunctival injection, and a thorough meibomian gland disease (MGD) evaluation. . In each 30 min challenge, a computer game was played for 30 minutes in a temperature, humidity and air controlled environment. Four random interventions included: no intervention, artificial tears (SystaneTM) instilled immediately prior to the computer challenge, MEGs and both MEGs and SystaneTM. Following each challenge, subjects filled out an eye-comfort questionnaire, and had an ocular surface assessment which included TBUT, FS, and LGS.Results The MEGs symptomatic group showed significant (P≤ .05) improvement in comfort score and tear break up time vs. with the no protection and SystaneTM alone conditions. They showed a progressive trend of less FS with SystaneTM vs. no treatment, MEGs vs. SystaneTM, MEGs plus SystaneTM vs. MEGs alone. Significant (p≤ .05) reduction in LGS with MEGs plus SystaneTM vs. no treatment, MEGs alone and SystaneTM alone. A significant correlation (p≤ .05) was found between lifetime cumulative computer use and the OSDI index but no significant correlation between current number of hours of computer use and the OSDI score, suggesting a 2 stage mechanism (most probably of MGD) involving long term degenerative effects of computer use (probably via blink inhibition) vs. acute dessication effects as produced by computer challenge.
Conclusions::
MEGs are effective at improving signs and symptoms of dry-eye among symptomatic computer users, and offer additional protection when combined with SystaneTM.
Clinical Trial::
www.clinicaltrials.gov 888888
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials