Symptomatic accommodative and binocular dysfunctions from the use of flat-panel displays

AIM： To determine the presence of symptomatic accommodative and non-strabismic binocular dysfunctions （A.sBD） in a non-presbyopic population of video display unit （VDU） users with flat-panel displays. METHODS： One hundred and one VDU users, aged between 20 to 34y, initially participated in the study. This study excluded contact-lens wearers and subjects who had undergone refractive surgery or had any systemic or ocular disease. First, subjects were asked about the type and nature of eye symptoms they experienced during VDU use. Then, a thorough eye examination excluded those subjects with a significant uncorrected refractive error or other problem, such as ocular motility disorders, vertical deviation, strabismus and eye diseases. Finally, the remaining participants underwent an exhaustive assessment of their accommodative and binocular vision status. RESULTS： Eighty-nine VDU users （46 females and 43 males） were included in this study. They used flat-panel displays for an average of 5±1.9h a day. Twenty subjects presented A.sBD （22.5%）. Convergence excess was the most frequent non-strabismic binocular dysfunction （9 subjects）, followed by fusional vergence dysfunction （3 subjects） and convergence insufficiency （2 subjects）. Within the accommodative dysfunctions, accommodative excess was the most common （4 subjects）, followed by accommodative insufficiency （2 subjects）. Moderate to severe eye symptoms were found in 13 subjects with ANSBD. CONCLUSION： Significant eye symptoms in VDU users with accommodative and/or non-strabismic binocular dysfunctions often occur and should not be underestimated; therefore, an appropriate evaluation of accommodative and binocular vision status is more important for this population,

Visual and ocular effects from the use of flat-panel displays

AIM： To evaluate the prevalence of eye symptoms in a non-presbyopic population of video display unit （VDU） users with flat-panel displays. METHODS： One hundred and sixteen VDU users with flat-panel display from an urban population participated in the study; their ages ranging from 20 to 34y. There were 60 females and 56 males. An eye examination to rule out the presence of significant uncorrected refractive errors, general binocular dysfunctions and eye conditions was carried out. In order to determine and quantify the type and nature of eye symptoms, participants were asked to answer written questionnaire and the results were grouped by gender, age and number of hours a day spent using a VDU. RESULTS： Seventy-two percent of participants reported eye symptoms related to VDU use. Eye symptoms from moderate-to-severe were found in 23% of participants. The main symptom was moderate-to- severe tired eyes （14%）; followed by sensitivity to bright lights （12%）, blurred vision at far distances （10%）, eyestrain or dry eye or irritated or burning eyes （9%）, difficulty in refocusing from one distance to another or headache （8%） and blurred vision at near or intermediate distances （〈4%）. Eye symptoms were greater among females （P=0.005） and increased with VDU use, markedly above 6h spent using a VDU in a typical day （P=0.01）. CONCLUSION： Significant eye symptoms relate to VDU use often occur and should not be underestimated. The increasing use of electronic devices with flat-panel display should prompt users to take appropriate measures to prevent or to relieve the eye symptoms arising from their use.