Abstract
Purpose :
There is a rising epidemic of dry eye disease among video display terminal (VDT) users. In order to understand the real-time changes in the tear film with VDT work, this study assessed the ocular surface changes in symptomatic VDT users before and after VDT work.
Methods :
Twenty-two healthy individuals (mean age, 29.6±5.6 years) with a mean OSDI of 28±11 and a history of VDT use for a mean of 3.7±2.8 years, diagnosed with computer vision syndrome were included. Detailed tear film analysis using the Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) and Tearlab Osmolarity System (Tearlab Corporation, California, USA) were performed before and after one hour of computer work (at a temperature of 25 ± 1.0 C, humidity range of 44 ± 5.0%, and display LCD 200 lux). Continuous video monitoring was performed during the work to capture the blink rate.
Results :
The total use of VDT devices was 11.8±3.6 hours per day, including desktop (7.2±3.1 h) and mobile use (5.1±2.6 h). During one hour of computer work, the average blink rate was 7±4.1 per minute. No differences in the tear film parameters existed between the two eyes. Meibum expressibility was grade 1 in 87% of eyelids, and meibum quality was clear in expressible glands. After one hour of work, the non-invasive tear break-up time changed to 6.9±3.7 sec from a baseline of 11±4 sec (P=0.007). The bulbar congestion scores also significantly changed (0.83±0.37 vs 1.0±0.4; P=0.02). There were no significant changes in tear meniscus height (0.24 vs 0.25mm; P=0.81), corneal staining score (0.4 vs 0.4), tear osmolarity (301 vs 304 mOsm/l; P=0.97) and Schirmer I (13.2 vs 11.1mm) values from the baseline.
Conclusions :
Tear film stability and bulbar conjunctival congestion are significantly altered following short-term VDT work in patients with VDT-associated dry eye disease.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.