Relationship between Time spent using Video Display Terminals and Dry Eye Disease

Abstract

Purpose : To evaluate how time spent viewing video display terminals (VDT) influences ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores and ocular pain rating scales, and to report VDT users’ treatment responses to available dry eye disease (DED) therapies.

Methods : A cross-sectional study evaluated patients presenting for dry eye management in an academic setting. Demographics, ocular and medical history, time spent on VDTs (computers, tablets, and cellphones), OSDI scores, ocular numeric rating scale (NRS) and descriptors, and subjective response to previously tried eye drop, systemic, and non-pharmacologic treatments were collected from the patient population. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the correlation between time utilizing VDTs with OSDI and NRS scores and to examine the treatment response in VDT users.

Results : 144 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 58.1 years. The average reported daily time spent on all VDT was 5.6±4.5 hours, with an average of 3.2±3.5 hours on computers, 0.8±1.5 hours on tablets, and 1.7±1.6 hours on cellphones. There was a very weak correlation between OSDI score and time spent on computers (R²=0.002), tablets (R²<0.001), cellphones (R²=0.01), and all VDT combined (R²<0.001). The lack of correlation persisted when controlling for age. There was a similarly very weak correlation between NRS score and time spent on computers (R²=0.01), tablets (R²=0.001), cellphones (R²<0.001), and all VDT combined (R²=0.006). Patients with more than four hours of daily VDT use and ocular pain had a response rate of 90.6% with artificial tears, 82.7% with hot compresses, 79.1% with steroid eyedrops, 74.5% with tinted lenses, 63.6% with lifitegrast, and 60.0% with cyclosporine A 0.005%.

Conclusions : Time spent engaging VDT was not related with OSDI or NRS scores, highlighting the need for further investigation of dry eye diagnostic tools in VDT users. There was a trend towards decreased computer usage with increased ocular pain, possibly reflecting the loss of productivity in this group. Available DED therapy has a high rate of efficacy in patients with ocular pain associated with VDT use.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.